92002E2883

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2883/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: Community support

Less than a year after another identical situation, almost a thousand workers employed by the multinational footwear company Rohde in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, are again facing the prospect of being laid off for three weeks. The situation is especially serious given the very low wage levels in Portugal, and not even these low wages will be paid during this period.

The management's justification, based on an alleged lack of orders, is not credible given that work has remained at an extremely high level. The business association Appicaps itself states that Portugal again stands out against the remaining Community countries with footwear exports reaching a new historic high, increasing by 36 % according to INE figures, a trend which has continued in 2002.

Bearing in mind that the company has received around EUR 500 000 in state incentives,

can the Commission provide information on any Community support which the German multinational Rohde has received in Portugal and in other EU Member States, and on the measures adopted with a view to safeguarding the rights of its workers?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

With regard to protection of the rights of the workers concerned, the Commission would refer in particular to Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies(1).

This Directive has been largely transposed into national law in Portugal. Although an infringement procedure(2) is currently under way against Portugal to ensure that this Directive is fully transposed into national law, it does not seem that Portugal's non-compliance can in this particular case affect the rights guaranteed to workers under Community law.

It is therefore up to the relevant national authorities to check whether they are properly implemented in this case.

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that, to its knowledge, Rohde has not received any Community funding, and certainly not from European Social Fund money for Portugal.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.

(2) Case C-55/02 pending before the Court of Justice of the European Communities.