Poland is to receive 454,000 euros in EU globalization fund aid for sacked workers in the south eastern Podkarpacie province.

The European Commission has just approved a request on the matter filed by Warsaw.

The assistance scheme is to embrace redundant crews of three major machine tool companies producing equipment and spare parts for the home and road construction sectors as well as the mining industry, explained EC spokeswoman Cristina Arigho.

“They lost their jobs following a major drop in exports as demand fell from key trading partners such as Germany, Russia and the Ukraine in the wake of the financial crisis. The former workers in Poland will benefit from measures to help them find a new job as quickly as possible, retraining and advice services, mainly,” she said.

The money will go to help 200 workers with the most serious financial situation and problems in securing new employment.

The Polish request still requires approval of the European Parliament and individual EU member governments.  (ss)