Electrolux faces Italian government ultimatum over plant closures and layoffs

Electrolux Group announced a restructuring plan for its Italian operations that would cut about 1,700 jobs – roughly 40 % of its workforce – and close the Cerreto d’Esi kitchen‑hood plant in the Marche region, affecting 170 workers, by the end of 2026. The proposal triggered a “delicate” negotiation table convened by Industry Minister Adolfo Urso at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, attended by regional representatives from Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli‑Venezia Giulia, Emilia‑Romagna and Marche, national union federations (FIOM, FIM, UILM) and Electrolux executives.

All parties demanded the immediate withdrawal of the plan, a freeze on the layoffs and a new industrial proposal that preserves the factories and jobs. The government set a June 15 deadline for Electrolux to retract the plan. Regional leaders, notably the President of Marche, called the plan “unacceptable” and warned of industrial desertification. Electrolux defended the move, citing soaring steel, energy and labor costs in Europe and competitive pressure from Asian manufacturers, and said the plan reflects an “unsustainable” market context.

The ministry plans to raise the issue at the EU level, seeking strategic sector status for household appliances.