Brussels, 05/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission proposed on Friday 5 September to provide Belgium with €911,934 from the European globalisation adjustment fund (EGF) to help 752 former workers of steel producer Carsid S.A. find new jobs.
Belgium applied for support from the EGF following the dismissal of 939 workers at Carsid S.A., most of whom live in the area of Charleroi in the Walloon Region. The measures co-financed by the EGF will help the 752 workers facing the greatest difficulties in finding new jobs by providing them with job-search assistance, active career guidance and a variety of retraining and vocational training schemes, says the Commission in a press release. The total estimated cost of the package is €1.8 million, half of which would be provided by the EGF.
The redundancies were the result of a rapid decline of the EU's share of the global market for continuously-cast crude steel (down 13.4% between 2006 and 2011) and a decrease in demand for steel from the EU's automotive and construction sectors as a consequence of the economic crisis, combined with a relative increase in production costs (such as raw materials, energy and environmental constraints). The number of people employed in the EU's metallurgical industry decreased by 19.4% from 2008 to 2013.
“Many workers in the EU's steel industry are experiencing hardship and it is important that the EU demonstrates solidarity to help them to upgrade their skills and find new career opportunities”, stated Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Laszlo Andor.
Since 2007, the EGF has received 128 applications. Some €523 million has been requested to help more than 111,000 workers. In 2013 alone, it provided more than €53.5 million in support, the Commission says. (MB)