Crisis at the Zanella fashion house (Veneto) and mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)

20.1.2017

Question for written answer E-000295-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Mara Bizzotto (ENF)

Zanella, a company from Caldogno in the Province of Vicenza, has been operating in the Italian luxury fashion industry, producing high-quality tailored trousers, since 1954. Today, the historic brand employees 95 workers, most of whom are women.

In 2015, Zanella was acquired by US firm Tengram, which now runs the company in conjunction with Vicenza Manufacturing, the owner of the Caldogno site.

On 14 December 2016, Zanella’s US management announced that the Caldogno site would be closed and its 95 employees made redundant by the end of January 2017.

The announcement of the closure came without warning and failed to involve any kind of negotiations with the employees, who will soon find themselves unemployed without rhyme or reason. The closure of this major production facility will have serious repercussions on the social fabric of Caldogno and Vicenza.

— In light of the above, how will the Commission protect the employees and their families?

— Would it say that, in this case, the conditions have been met for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in support of the workers and their vocational retraining?