Whirlpool said Thursday that it is
ceasing production at its Naples plant as of October 31.
The future of the Naples factory has long been a source of
tension between the US-based home-appliance multinational and
the Italian authorities, which say the closure breaches previous
agreements and have been trying to convince the company to make
a U-turn.
Whirlpool says the Naples factory is economically unsustainable.
Minister for the South Giuseppe Provenzano described Whirlpool's
announcement as "extremely serious and unacceptable for the
country.
"A commitment was made to the country with the industrial plan
which is not being respected," he added.
Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris called on the government to "do
everything to avert this disaster".
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