Coronavirus. The action taken by Italian manufacturers to protect workers

The action taken by Italian ceramic companies to protect workers. Confindustria Ceramica donates €200,000 to the Hospital Foundation of Sassuolo and to hospitals in the province of Reggio Emilia for the public health emergency.

In line with the decisions adopted in the Prime Ministerial Decree of 8 and 11 March and above all with the Memorandum signed by the government, trade unions and Confindustria on Saturday 14 March, the Italian ceramic industry is making every possible organisational effort to implement preventive measures for worker protection, with the aim of reconciling public health priorities with the continuation of transport and production activities.

In today’s challenging market situation, it is essential for Italian ceramic companies to continue their operations in accordance with specific strategies and business choices so as not to undermine all the investments and efforts that have been made over the years.

Ever since the creation of the first “coronavirus red zone”, and in consultation with the trade unions, ceramic companies have organised working and eating spaces that guarantee the legally required safety distances; they have increasingly adopted smart working solutions, reaching values of 30% and peaks of 50% in office areas; they have made it easier for employees to take holiday leave for family needs; they have suspended training courses and adopted alternative methods for company meetings and unavoidable transfers. They have also widely disseminated information on legal requirements and, where appropriate, distributed protective equipment and carried out more frequent sanitisation of workplaces.

Freight transport is an essential service that must continue to operate. To protect drivers and shipping personnel, ceramic companies have adopted containment measures such as new entry, transit and exit procedures and the use of dedicated routes and pre-established timescales to ensure that people maintain a safe distance at all times.

Another fundamental aspect for a sector that exports 85% of its output is that the borders between countries remain open. Amid calls from Confindustria, the EU is drawing up clear and simple rules for the safe conduct of trade that apply to all Member States.

The government has acted swiftly to introduce the social shock-absorbers necessary to protect workers’ incomes and to support companies in such areas as liquidity.

In keeping with this focus on people and the local area, the Executive Board of Confindustria Ceramica has decided to donate 200,000 euros to the Sassuolo Hospital Foundation and, through the Local Health Authority, to hospitals in the province of Reggio Emilia for the purchase of intensive care beds to help our excellent healthcare system cope with the COVID-19 emergency.

 

19 March 2020