The European Commission has proposed to provide Sweden with almost 1.8 million euro from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 500 former workers of Volvo Trucks in Sweden to find new jobs.

© Alexander Kondratenko / Shutterstock.com

Sweden applied for support from the EGF following the dismissal of 647 workers from Volvo Trucks EMEA and four suppliers directly affected by the dismissals at Volvo Trucks. These job losses were the result of serious disruptions in commercial vehicles' trade in recent years.

Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, commented: "Redundancies like these are major shocks to regional economies, especially in sparsely populated regions such as Västerbotten. EU solidarity is there to help the dismissed workers upgrade their skills and prepare for new opportunities. It is important for us to support them in this way and to help them find new job opportunities in this area or further afield. This proposal for almost 1.8 million euro from Europe's Globalisation Fund would help ease their transition to new jobs".

The measures co-financed by the EGF would help the 500 most disadvantaged workers in their efforts to find jobs by providing them with

• guidance,
• training,
• job-search support,
• advice on entrepreneurship and business creation,
• job-search allowances
• travel expenses.

The total estimated cost of the package is almost €3 million, of which the EGF would provide just under 1.8 million euro (60 %).

The proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for approval.