Brussels, 31/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 31 Octo
ber, the European Commission proposed to provide €3.9 million of assistance from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) to Italy. The funding, matched by €2.1 million of national contribution, will help 528 redundant construction workers to find work.
The Italian application relates to 643 redundancies in 323 small and medium sized enterprises operating in the buildings construction sector in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The dismissals were a consequence of the financial and economic crisis, which has resulted in a substantial fall in demand for new houses and house renovation in this region where the construction sector is an important employer.
Of the total 643 workers made redundant, the 528 workers with the greatest difficulties of re-integration into the labour market are targeted for assistance from the EGF. The package of EGF assistance will offer the workers one-to-one counselling and guidance, skills assessment and outplacement, coaching, general training and re-training, individual vocational training, mentoring after reintegration into work and participation and subsistence allowances.
Unemployment in Trento increased by 117 % in 2010 compared to 2009. In Bolzano/Bozen unemployment at the end of 2010 was 43 % higher than in the same period the previous year. In this area in Italy, the construction sector contributes to about 15 % of regional GDP and represents 8.6 % of the jobs in Trentino and 8 % in Bolzano/Bozen.
There have been 78 applications to the EGF since the start of its operations in January 2007, for a total amount of about €357.6 million, helping nearly 76,000 workers. (LC/transl.fl)