Former Ilva steel plant in Taranto: Government meets with representatives of related industries and trade union organisations

The Government held two separate meetings regarding the former Ilva steel plant in Taranto at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Rome today, with representatives of related industries and trade union organisations. 

During the first meeting, the Government informed the companies operating in related industries about the latest developments in the ongoing procedure to safeguard the plant’s production continuity. In particular, the Government outlined the measures already adopted to protect workers and related companies, and announced its intention to put in place a single ‘social safety net’. The Government also provided an update on the request to place Acciaierie d’Italia Spa (AdI) under extraordinary administration, filed with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy by Invitalia Spa (AdI’s public shareholder), the aim of which is to keep the plant running and revitalise production. The Government told attendees that the extraordinary administrators would be appointed over the coming days, providing assurance that the chosen individuals would be steel industry professionals with sector-specific expertise and practical knowledge of the facilities. The representatives of related industries made a number of proposals, requesting support for the companies involved; the Government reassured them that the proposals would be reviewed. The Government also confirmed that round-table discussions would continue until the issue of the former Ilva steel plant is resolved.

During the meeting with representatives of trade union organisations, the measures taken to protect workers were outlined, starting with the ‘cassa integrazione’ [fund to supplement earnings] that has already been guaranteed for the whole of 2024. The Government also informed attendees that the decree law regarding urgent provisions to protect the related industries of large insolvent companies under extraordinary administration, currently pending parliamentary approval, is open to further improvement in order to ensure production and business continuity for the former Ilva plant.

The meetings were chaired by Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano and were also attended by Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Minister of Labour and Social Policies Marina Calderone and Minister for European Affairs, Southern Italy, Cohesion Policy and the NRRP Raffaele Fitto. Related industries were represented by A.I.G.I, Casartigiani Puglia, Confindustria Taranto, Confapi Taranto, Confartigianato Puglia, Federmanager and Fai Conftrasporto. On behalf of trade unions, representatives of Fiom-Cgil, Fim-Cisl, Uilm-Uil, Ugl Metalmeccanici and Usb were in attendance.