Ex Ilva: Italian government prepares decree to protect workers

The Italian government is preparing a decree to support workers at the former Ilva steel plant in Taranto. Following meetings at Palazzo Chigi between government officials and labor unions (Fim, Fiom, and Uilm), Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano announced that the Council of Ministers would review measures aimed at protecting employees.

Key priorities for the unions include a freeze on layoffs for subcontracted workers, who are considered the most vulnerable, and guarantees for direct employees. The government is considering extraordinary tools, such as specialized redundancy funds (cassa integrazione), to ensure social and occupational security following legal rulings regarding the plant's hot area.

Regarding the industrial future of the site, a group of Italian steel companies is expected to submit offers in early October. The government has stated it is ready to support interested private players, though state participation remains contingent on the nature of these concrete proposals. The strategy also emphasizes a transition toward a green steel future through decarbonization and electric furnaces.