Layoffs of workers at the GKN Driveline plant in Campi Bisenzio, Italy
25.8.2021
Question for written answer E-003953/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marc Botenga (The Left)
On 16 July 2021, the 422 workers employed by the GKN Driveline plant in Campi Bisenzio, near Florence, Italy, received an email or WhatsApp message informing them of the plant's closure and, as a consequence, of their imminent layoff. In addition to the 422 workers, approximately 80 outsourced jobs were also reported to have been axed. Yet the first quarter of 2021 showed an increase in revenues at the GKN Driveline plant in Campi Bisenzio of 7% compared to the last quarter of 2020 and 14% more than budget forecasts. GKN's European works council was reportedly not consulted, nor was it even informed of the automotive component manufacturer's decision to close its site in Florence before it was announced to employees. In addition, the company has received EU funding in recent years.
- 1.Can the Commission say what amounts of EU funding the entities of the GKN group, including the subsidiary GKN Driveline, have received?
- 2.What conditions were imposed on these companies in terms of employment and production in exchange for their receiving EU funds?
- 3.Is the Commission considering legislative proposals to prevent layoffs in multinational companies that pay dividends to shareholders or receive EU funds?