In a significant shift, home appliance giant Electrolux has updated its restructuring plan for its Italian operations. The company has officially agreed to withdraw its proposal for unilateral lay-offs, opening the door to renegotiations with trade unions and government officials.

The decision follows extensive talks at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit), chaired by Minister Adolfo Urso, alongside union representatives.

Key Highlights of the New Electrolux Plan

* No Unilateral Lay-offs: The company has removed compulsory redundancy notices, focusing instead on voluntary departures and social safety cushions (ammortizzatori sociali).
* Voluntary Departure Incentives: Over a three-year period, Electrolux aims to manage 1,250 voluntary departures—comprising 600 office staff and 650 factory workers—supported by financial packages and early-retirement incentives.
* Temporary Lay-off Support: Extraordinary temporary lay-off funds (cassa integrazione straordinaria) will be deployed to support staff during product line and manufacturing transitions.
* All Italian Facilities Preserved: Italian Minister Adolfo Urso confirmed that all production plants will remain operational with no forced dismissals.
* EU Policy Alignment: Discussions emphasized protecting European manufacturing from Asian market competition and aligning Italian industrial strategy with broader EU policy support.

A New Phase for Negotiations

Minister Urso hailed the agreement as a fresh start, noting: “We succeeded because we fought together. All plants are saved, and no one will be unilaterally dismissed. Now, we work toward a genuinely sustainable plan that secures Italy’s home appliance sector while updating European trade and industrial rules.
With unilateral layoffs off the table, technical meetings have been scheduled throughout the month to formalize plant-by-plant agreements, production line reorganizations, and long-term re-industrialization plans.