Ilcas highlighted Nokia applies an aid program in facility shutdown cases to support employees made redundant. He said the severance package will be set through negotiations between the two parts.
“We did not include severance pay in the collective work contract because of this program. We were told about it and that it will apply whenever necessary,” added Ilcas.
He pointed out that one should not imagine an investor in Romania will pay EUR100,000 to an employee made redundant, as it happened in the case of Nokia’s employees at the plant in Bochum, Germany.
Employees who wished to remain anonymous told MEDIAFAX Tuesday the collective work contract union leaders at Nokia’s local plant signed at the beginning of the year does not state the granting of severance payments in the event of collective layoffs.
They said the collective work contract does not stipulate any severance payments because no one anticipated the plant would be shut down until at least 2014.
On Monday, Nokia representatives and unionists started negotiations on severance package for the employees who will be laid off. They will meet for a new round of negotiations Wednesday.
Nokia last week announced it was closing its manufacturing facility in Jucu by the end of 2011, citing the need to cut costs and bring efficiency to the business. The company said employees will continue to receive wages until the end of March 2012.