Type
Closure
Country
Italy
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Brescia, Gozzano (NO)
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Rubber And Plastic Products And Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products
Manufacture Of Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products
23.42 - Manufacture of ceramic sanitary fixtures

650 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
16 July 2009
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
1 September 2010

Description

Ideal Standard, the European leading brand in bathrooms' design and solutions, is to cut 650 jobs. At the beginning of July, the company announced a reorganisation plan that envisaged an 'extra-ordinary' Wage Guarantee Fund (CIGS) one-year scheme for 1,740 workers (out of 7,000 employees) and, at the end of the CIGS scheme, 650 job-cuts, with the closure of Brescia plant (130 employees) and Gozzano plant in the province of Novara (140 employees). According to the company, the workforce's reduction was due to the relevant decrease in sales reported last year.

The trade unions reacted to the company's decision by going out on strike and occupying the Brescia plant. Moreover they asked the involvement of the national authorities. On 16 July, after a meeting between the company, the trade unions and the Minister of Economic Development, the company announced the stoppage of the CIGS scheme for 1,740 workers. Moreover, the company and the trade unions have planned some meetings in order to avoid the layoffs and find measures to relaunch the productive activity.

Ideal Standard is headquartered in Milan and has five productive plants, located at Brescia, Orcenico, Roccasecca, Gozzano and Trichiana. In Italy, it has around 7,000 employees.


Sources

  • 16 July 2009: Il Sole 24 Ore
  • 3 July 2009: Il corriere della sera

Citation

Eurofound (2009), Ideal Standard, Closure in Italy, factsheet number 69435, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/69435.