2.6-mln-euro aid approvedfor former Nokia workers in Finland

The European Parliament approved 2.6 million euros (2.89 million U.S. dollars) worth of job-search aid for 821 former information and communication technology (ICT) workers in Finland in a vote on Wednesday.

The workers were made redundant by Nokia and three of its suppliers and downstream producers as a result of fierce competition between the ICT sector in Finland and abroad.

Approved overwhelmingly by 554 votes to 70, with eight abstentions, the resolution approves measures co-financed by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) noted in their resolution that ICT plays a key structural role in the Finnish economy. They point out that the most recent redundancies at Nokia "reflect a trend that affects the Finnish technology industry as a whole, where employment numbers in the last two years are extremely unstable as a result of high pressure to increase efficiency and maintain the competitiveness of products."

They also note that the redundancies are part of Nokia's worldwide transformation program "which is needed in order to be able to compete with East Asian rivals."

The areas of Finland concerned are the regions around the cities of Helsinki, Oulu and Tampere.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, with an annual ceiling of 150 million euros, helps redundant workers with career coaching and individual guidance, employment and business services.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)