The Commission proposed to provide Italy with €3.3 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 1,610 former workers at Almaviva Contact, a company operating in the call centre sector, find new jobs.

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Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, commented: "Solidarity is a core value of the EU, and an important way to display this is through helping those most in need. By offering €3.3 million in financial support to help former Almaviva workers with their job search, through training, individual orientation and support for business start-up, the reintegration of these workers into employment will be considerably facilitated". 

Italy applied for support from the Globalisation Fund following the closure of Almaviva Contact's premises in Rome and the dismissal of 1,646 workers that followed. These job losses were the result of a mix of adverse conditions triggered by the economic and financial crisis.

The measures co-financed by the EGF would help 1,610 workers by providing them with individual orientation; job search; reemployment voucher; a variety of trainings; promotion of entrepreneurship and support for business start-up, along with contribution to commuting expenses and reimbursement of the expenses for carers of dependent persons.

The total estimated cost of the package is €5.5 million, of which the EGF would provide €3.3 million (60%). The proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for approval.