Italy: €3.35 million to help 1,610 former call centre workers find new jobs
- The Italian company closed down one of its call centres due to increased worldwide competition
- EU funds to cover job-search, vocational training and mobility costs
1,610 call centre workers laid off in Italy by Almaviva Contact SpA, will receive EU aid worth €3,347,370, following a plenary vote on Tuesday.
Almaviva Contact SpA had to close its call centre in Rome in late 2016. This resulted in 1,664 workers being made redundant in total. The company’s revenue fell by 45% between 2011 and 2015, due to high labour costs and increased pressure on prices from growing worldwide competition. As it was not possible to align the high labour costs with other Almaviva work centres, the closure could not be prevented, according to the report drafted by Daniele Viotti (S&D, IT) , which was adopted by 579 votes to 79, with 15 abstentions.
The co-funding mobilised through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) will complement eight measures taken by the Italian authorities, which will include job-search, vocational training and the reimbursement of mobility costs. 79% of the 1,610 workers eligible for assistance are women, most of whom are between 30 and 55 years of age.
Next steps
The aid can take effect soon, as the Council already approved it on 7 November.
Quick Facts
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund contributes to packages of tailor-made services to help redundant workers find new jobs. Its annual ceiling is €150 million.
Redundant workers are offered measures such as support for business start-ups, job-search assistance, occupational guidance and various kinds of training. In most cases, national authorities have already put in place the measures and will have their costs reimbursed by the EU when their applications are finally approved.