| Commission proposes €4.3 million from Globalisation Fund to help former Astra Zeneca workers |
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16/07/2012 05:38 (313 Day 10:58 minutes ago) | |||||
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The FINANCIAl -- The European Commission has today proposed to provide Sweden with €4.3 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 700 workers made redundant by the pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca back to employment.
As EUbusiness reporetd, the proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for their approval.
EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor said: "The pharmaceutical industry is currently undergoing significant changes in order to retain its competitiveness in a tough environment, and it is therefore increasingly seeking synergies to hold down the rising costs of R&D activities. I am confident that this proposal for 4.3 million euros from Europe's Globalisation Fund would help to make the workers' transition to new jobs easier and faster."
Sweden applied for support from the EGF concerning 987 redundancies from AstraZeneca following the closures of the R&D sites in the municipalities of Lund and Umeå and limiting operations in Mölndal and Södertälje. Of the total 987 redundant workers, 700 with the most difficulties to get new jobs are targeted for support from the EGF. The package aims to help the workers by offering them occupational guidance and job-search assistance, as well as vocational training and retraining, and aid for self-employment.
The total estimated cost of the package is approximately €6.6 million, to which the EGF would provide €4.3 million.
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