The European Commission approved, on 31 August, an application from the Netherlands for support from the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) after 512 workers in its semiconductors industry were made redundant. If the European Parliament and the Council do not raise any objections, the Union will release €1,809,434 to help back into employment the 512 individuals laid off by NXP Semiconductors Netherlands BV. The funds make up two thirds of the cost of the total package (estimated at €2.8 million) put together to get those concerned back into jobs.

Most of these workers have highly specialised experience in manufacturing. The lack of vacancies in the region (Nijmegen, Netherlands) in similar companies will be particularly problematic. The EGF support for workers made redundant by NXP Semiconductors Netherlands BV will include the following measures: job-to-job accompaniment, recognition of prior experience and training and re-training.

The EGF has already released a total of nearly €373.6 million, helping more than 70,000 workers.

MEPS CRITICAL

Although the Commission finds that the fund has proved effective, based on the final reports on the EGF’s earlier interventions, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) recently adopted a report (by Miguel Portas, EUL-NGL, Portugal) criticising the length of time needed to deliver the aid and important differences between member states.