Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

Finland applies for financial support from the European Union for layoffs due to Anttila's bankruptcy, according to a press release of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

 

The aim is to submit the application, being prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) later this autumn.

 

Anttila declared bankruptcy and layoffs concerning about 1 300 persons on 19 July 2016.

 

Services and support measures for the employees who were laid off would get started before the actual submission of the application, said the release issued on Tuesday.

 

“The EU support will allow us to guarantee personalised services. In many locations the Employment and Economic Development Offices are already offering support to the people laid off from Anttila, and now we will move forward to introduce even more effective measures in various parts of Finland,” says Minister of Justice and Employment Jari Lindström.

 

This is the first time when Finland applies for support for those laid off from the retail sector. There are new aspects relating to the application with regard to the administration and implementation as well.

 

In the earlier projects by means of EGF support the layoffs have concerned certain specific locations only, but now they touch upon the whole of Finland.

 

Finland has received funding from the EGF to support employees laid off from the ICT sector, shipbuilding industry and universities.

 

The EU co-funded 60% of the support via the EGF, while the national contribution was set at 40%, said the release.

 

In cases of major structural change, EGF support is granted for active employment policy measures, including as different types of training, education, promotion of mobility, pay subsidies and start-up grants.