The situation at the former Ilva steel plant is reaching a critical point, with the imminent arrival of extraordinary administrators and the appointment of extraordinary commissioners. The government has announced this in a meeting at Palazzo Chigi regarding the Ilva issue. The Fiom-Cgil union is emphasizing the need for swift action to ensure the protection of workers, production, health, and the environment. The union has always supported public intervention as a way to ensure the safety of the facilities, the environment, and the workers. They are seeking clarification on the government’s decision to appoint administrators.
The government has assured that a unique social safety net will be put in place, although they acknowledge the need for improvements during the conversion process in Parliament. However, the Minister of Enterprises, Adolfo Urso, clarified that there were no plans to allocate one billion euros to support workers in the Puglia region, contrary to some reports. The Ugl Metalmeccanici union stresses the importance of protecting jobs and ensuring the continuity of production at the Ilva plant. The USB union also highlights the need to address the situation of workers in the supply chain who are facing hardships due to the current uncertainties.
The Italian Association of Business Lawyers has presented a technical document to the government outlining the economic and employment consequences of the Ilva situation. They stress the urgent need for a fund to pay off outstanding debts to both direct and third-party creditors. The association has also proposed various measures such as immediate VAT recovery and the suspension of tax payments. The government is working to address these concerns and has opened discussions with banking institutions to facilitate the transfer of credit after the decree is converted into law.
As Acciaierie d’Italia moves towards extraordinary administration, a confrontation with Arcelor Mittal seems inevitable. The government is working to outline the details of this process, with the goal of attracting new private investors once Arcelor Mittal is removed. The Fim Cisl union expresses concerns about the potential negative impact of extraordinary administration on the company. Arcelor Mittal has responded to the government’s decision by seeking a ‘concordato con riserva’ to initiate a preventive concord within 60-120 days. The company accuses the government of violating their investment agreement.
The decision to place Acciaierie d’Italia under extraordinary administration has raised concerns about potential legal battles between the government and Arcelor Mittal. Despite Arcelor Mittal’s impending exit from the company, their market position remains strong, as evidenced by Moody’s recent upgrade of their outlook to ‘positive.’ The situation at the former Ilva plant continues to evolve, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments and advocating for the protection of workers and the sustainability of production. It remains to be seen how the transition to extraordinary administration will unfold and what impact it will have on the company and its employees.
