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Parliamentary question - E-007267/2017Parliamentary question
E-007267/2017

Froneri Italy dispute — redundancies in Parma

Question for written answer E-007267-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Cécile Kashetu Kyenge (S&D) , Patrizia Toia (S&D) , Damiano Zoffoli (S&D) , Renata Briano (S&D) , Enrico Gasbarra (S&D) , Pina Picierno (S&D) , Luigi Morgano (S&D) , Elena Gentile (S&D) , Alessia Maria Mosca (S&D) , Isabella De Monte (S&D) , Silvia Costa (S&D) , Daniele Viotti (S&D) , Paolo De Castro (S&D) , Nicola Danti (S&D)

In October 2016 the multinational Nestlé, backed by a PAI Partners investment fund, set up Froneri, which in Italy is called Froneri Italy Srl.

On 27 September 2017 Froneri informed the trade unions that it was starting a collective redundancy procedure involving 120 workers, 112 of whom are based in Parma. Also in Parma, 80 seasonal workers and 50 workers in related industries are likewise being made redundant. In Europe as a whole, a further 850 jobs are to be cut.

Far from suffering a crisis, Froneri is a classic success story and recently won an award for being a ‘top private equity business’.

— Does the Commission consider Froneri’s behaviour to be compatible with the principles of corporate social responsibility with which Nestlé and other multinationals supposedly have to comply?

— Can it explain why a site with good industrial prospects should have to be closed down, bearing in mind that the closure would amount to a severe social and economic loss for the Parma area?

— Although observance and enforcement of EU legislation are a matter for the proper national authorities, does not the Commission think that compliance with Directive 2002/14/EC should be closely monitored, especially where large multinationals are concerned?