Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Italian high-end furniture group Natuzzi group is to cut around 1,800 jobs in Italy.
The job cuts will mainly affect the plants located in Puglia and Basilicata regions: in particular, the company will close the plants located at Ginosa (600 employees), in the province of Taranto, and Matera (200 employees). According to the company, the number of dismissals could vary from 1,300 to 1,800, depending on the economic situation of the sector and the company’s decision to move a part of the production from Romanian to Italian plants.
Update, July 2013: Natuzzi has presented the details of the new industrial plan during a meeting with the trade unions at the Confindustria headquarter (Confindustria is the main Italian association of employers). The company has confirmed the announced job-cuts (specifically 1,726 out of 2,800), with the closure of the sites located at Ginosa (around 600 workers) and Matera (around 200). Natuzzi will start the collective dismissals' procedures in the next months. These procedures envisage “mobility” allowances for the redundant workers. The trade unions reacted to the company’s decision announcing several protest actions.
Update, October 2013: On 10 October 2013, the company and the trade unions, with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development, reached an agreement on the industrial plan previously announced by Natuzzi. The agreement envisages the reduction of the announced job cuts from 1,726 to 1,506. The redundant workers will benefit of one-year subsidised wages from the Wage Guarantee Fund (which is to end in October 2014). Moreover, economic incentives are provided for voluntary dismissals. In 2014 Natuzzi will move part of its production (the Leather Editions brand) from Romania to Italy, opening up the opportunity to re-employ part of the redundant workers in the next years. The social partners declared satisfaction for the agreement.
In recent years, the company has already used the Wage Guarantee Fund - a temporary layoff programme with subsidised wages - for the majority of its workforce. Natuzzi employs 6616 people, 2,800 of them in Italy and it is the largest Italian furniture company.
Update, 14/10/2014: Natuzzi asked for the extension of the Wage Guarantee Fund for another year for 1,550 employees and will provide benefits for voluntary dismissals to another 400 employees. As reported, the company has not reached yet an agreement with workers’ representatives on the reduction of labour costs, which are deemed necessary to move back the production from Romania.
Eurofound (2013), Natuzzi, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 74965, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/74965.
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