Around 200 workers of global steel giant
ArcelorMittal have occupied the company's idled steel plant at Florange in the Moselle region of northeastern
France, highlighting problems relating to industrial jobs in
France prior to the country's presidential elections, according to international media reports.
The workers occupied management offices at the plant, following the company's decision to extend the temporary shutdown of two blast furnaces at Florange. The furnaces have been idle since July last year due to weaker demand, and the workers fear that the plant might be closed permanently.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, the idling of production at Florange has led to temporary layoffs of 2,600 out of some 5,000 employees at the site.