Italy: operations at Ilva Tarente will resume if it gets up to date

The two ordinances, signed on July 26 by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Tarente Court, Patrizia Todisco, within the framework of the investigation on the “environmental disaster” the steel plant caused in the region, acted as earthquakes.  The first ordered the sequestration of 6 hot facilities of Ilva Tarente (with no possibility of using them).  The second put under house arrest eight defendants, including former and current managers, including Emilio Riva, the eighty-year-old leader of Ilva Spa until May 2010.  They are accused of being responsible for a voluntary disaster (colposo e doloso), poisoning of foodstuffs, voluntary omission of the measures preventing industrial accidents, aggravated prejudice to public goods, deposit of hazardous substances and pollution of the air.  The medico-epidemiological expertise notably confirmed the link between the pollution in the plant and the town’s abnormally high rates of mortality for tumorous pathologies and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.  Worse: in the Tamburi and Borgo neighborhoods, close to the company, the mortality rate is four times higher than the average in the city, and heart diseases are three times more common.  Ilva workers also have respiratory and tumorous diseases because they are exposed to carcinogenic substances at work, such as aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon and benzene.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

idemiological expertise notably confirmed the link between the pollution in the plant and the town’s abnormally high rates of mortality for tumorous pathologies and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Worse: in the Tamburi and Borgo neighborhoods, close to the company, the mortality rate is four times higher than the average in the city, and heart diseases are three times more common. Ilva workers also have respiratory and tumorous diseases because they are exposed to carcinogenic substa

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: Crédit Agricole signs first independent agreement on disability
On 8 December, French banking group Crédit Agricole and three of the four representative trade unions (CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO) in France signed a disability agreement for the period...
Norway: role of labour inspectorate strengthened to prevent sick leave
On 8 January, the Norwegian government issued a 2026 letter of assignment to the labour inspectorate, signalling an intention to strengthen its enforcement activity. The main objective of the...
9 January 2026
Czech Republic: employers required to contribute to retirement savings for employees in high-risk occupations
Since 1 January 2026, Czech employers have been required to contribute to the retirement savings of employees in occupations classified as high-risk (known as ‘category three’) due to...
8 January 2026
Spain: government wants 3.1% minimum wage hike
Spain's ministry of labour has informed the social partners of its intention to raise the minimum wage to €1,221 gross per month. This increase is expected to be approved by the Council of...
8 January 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
2
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
3
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026
4
EU: revised EWC directive published in official journal
The revision of the European Works Councils Directive, adopted by the European Parliament on 9 October, was published on 11 December in the EU’s official journal. Initiated in early 2023 by...