According to local trade union leader Gheorghe Ciobanu, ArcelorMittal Romania will shut down the manufacturing facilities at its subsidiary Tubular Products Romania, formerly Petrotub Romania, while just the product processing unit at the subsidiary will remain in function.
Commenting on the closure, Mr. Ciobanu said, "The 16- and 18-inch steel mills will be idled until they receive enough orders to secure the activity of the plant. The processing unit will continue to operate, while the third production facility, the 20-inch mill, is closed for repair and will be opened at the end of March. 80 percent of the steelmaker's workforce of 1,849 will remain in the unit, while the rest will take temporary leave." The trade union official went on to state that some 380 workers out of 1,849 had signed up for voluntary layoff, and that 24 workers have already been discharged, being compensated with severance pay packages.
"The majority of the workers who signed up meet the requirements for retirement," Mr. Ciobanu added.