Almaviva Contact SpA had to close its call centre in Rome in late 2016. This resulted in 1,664 workers being made redundant in total. The company’s revenue fell by 45% between 2011 and 2015, due to high labour costs and increased pressure on prices from growing worldwide competition. As it was not possible to align the high labour costs with other Almaviva work centres, the closure could not be prevented, according to the draft report by the Committee on Budgets.

The co-funding mobilised through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) will complement eight measures taken by the Italian authorities, which will include job-search, vocational training and the reimbursement of mobility costs. 79% of the 1,610 workers eligible for assistance are women, most of whom are between 30 and 55 years of age.

Next steps

To take effect, the aid has to be approved by the Parliament as a whole on 14 November. The Council approved it on 7 November.

Quick Facts

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund contributes to packages of tailor-made services to help redundant workers find new jobs. Its annual ceiling is €150 million.

Redundant workers are offered measures such as support for business start-ups, job-search assistance, occupational guidance and various kinds of training. In most cases, national authorities have already started the measures and will have their costs reimbursed by the EU when their applications are finally approved.