Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will cease production for two weeks following the coronavirus outbreak and to comply with emergency control measures enacted by the Italian government
Fincantieri’s decision to suspend production followed a request by Italian trade unions in a joint statement released by the FIM, FIOM, and UILM secretariats on 12 March.
Production activities at the company’s Italian sites will be suspended from 16 March to 29 March. The company said the decision was taken to protect its operational continuity.
Commenting on the outbreak, Fincantieri said “The chosen solution, once the situation is normalised, would allow [us] to restart again at full power in order to protect the future of our company and of our country, without resulting in an economic loss for the workers.”
Fincantieri said it has carried out a series of actions aimed at preventing and countering the chance of infections in its shipyards, adding that it considers the protection of its personnel and subcontractors a key priority.
However, the company said it intends to fulfil its contractual deadlines and said once the situation has normalised, “ship deliveries will be performed in compliance with the contractual deadlines”.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Europe has become the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic and Italy is the most affected country with over 30,000 reported cases.
Of its 20 shipyards, Fincantieri operates nine yards in Italy. The company operates across several industry sectors, notably cruise and ferry, with several subsidiaries and nearly 19,000 employees worldwide.
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