EMPLOYMENT : EGF: PROPOSALS TO HELP WORKERS MADE REDUNDANT IN THREE COUNTRIES.

• Position: European Globalisation Adjustment Fund; Netherlands, Spain and France

The European Commission presented three proposals in August to provide support under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), in response to requests from the Netherlands, Spain and France.

On 9 August, the executive proposed to provide 1.5 million to help workers who have lost their jobs in the aluminium industry in the Netherlands. The funds would be used to help 616 workers made redundant by Zalco Aluminium Zeeland Company NV and two of its suppliers. The firm's bankruptcy, at the end of 2011, was directly related to the drop in demand for aluminium products, in particular extrusion billets used in construction and the automotive sector, and to higher energy costs (especially in April 2010 and October 2011). The total cost of the package of measures is estimated at 2.3 million, of which 1.5 million would be provided by the EGF.

The same day, the Commission proposed support to help get the 450 workers laid off by 35 small and medium-sized enterprises dependent on shipbuilding back into employment. It proposed funding of 2 million for Spain to finance a system that includes occupational guidance and aid for business creation or self-employment, different types of training and retraining, on-the-job training, accompanying measures (job search assistance and tutoring after finding work), as well as...