The Blue Jay sees the response plan for Ukraine as “clearly insufficient”

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The Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile and Flooring Manufacturers (Ascer) has shown its "dissatisfaction" with the measures contemplated within the framework of the National Response Plan to the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine: "They are clearly insufficient . " "The approved text raises doubts regarding its application and suffers from a certain lack of definition that creates uncertainty in companies at a time when the economy needs the opposite ," they point out from the tile sector.

The tile sector explains that, in energy matters , direct aid is established for gas-intensive sectors of the paper and cardboard manufacturing sectors; fibers; glass; refractory ceramics and ceramic tiles. Likewise, the amounts Phone Number List of aid are established according to the number of employees, with a maximum of 5,000 euros per employee for the ceramic sectors, and 2,600 euros in the case of the rest of the gas-intensive sectors. And with a limit per bonus company in any case of 400,000 euros.

"An insignificant figure"
Thus, a typical company in the tile sector could receive a maximum of 400,000 euros. "An insignificant figure if we take into account that the average monthly gas bill in the last period could be around 2 million euros," criticizes Ascer. In this sense, they explain that the average number of employees in the industry is 103 employees, but "we must not forget that in addition to SMEs we have large companies that far exceed that figure and that will be penalized in the calculation . "

“In the sector we expected a stronger response and with more measures that have been left in the pipeline, such as the reduction of gas tolls; elimination of taxes on hydrocarbons or payment moratoriums for companies affected by the energy crisis; all of them measures aimed at providing liquidity to companies and thus being able to maintain production and employment,” says Alberto Echavarría, general secretary of Ascer.

“The European Commission has led the way”
“The European Commission has led the way to provide decisive aid to companies affected by energy costs, allowing aid of up to 50 million euros per company. From the sector we demand that the Government of Spain allocate sufficient funds so that the aid offered reaches the maximum allowed. It makes no sense for the Commission to collect aid of up to €50 million and in Spain only up to €400,000 is provided per company ,” adds Echavarría.

Other measures included in the RDL refer to the updating of electricity charges, applying a reduction of 36%, both in the power and energy part. According to the sectoral information available to the tile sector, "electrical charges can represent around 50% of the fixed part of the bill for our companies."




The 80% electric toll reduction has been established for electro-intensive industries. «Many companies in the ceramic tile manufacturing sector are not included in the electro-intensive statute, so they could not benefit from this line of aid. "If the European definition of an electro-intensive sector had been considered, our entire sector could benefit from this toll reduction measure ," they lament.

In labor matters, the main novelties - highlighted by Ascer - are two: the prohibition of dismissal for objective reasons until June 30 of all companies that benefit from direct aid contemplated in the RDL and the prohibition of dismissal for objective reasons to those companies that execute an ERTE related to the invasion of Ukraine and that benefit from public support.

"The most likely consequence will be that tile companies resort directly to layoffs"
The number of ERTEs presented from December 1 to March 25 in the sector reaches 27 files with a total of 3,930 employees affected. The sector as a whole employs more than 17,000 people. «If we estimate that ERTE mainly affect line workers, and that they represent approximately 60% of the workforce, at this time, at a sector level we would be talking about more than 40% of production workers affected. for the ERTE", they stand out from the tile sector.

From Ascer, they consider "absolutely regrettable" the general prohibition clause on dismissal for objective reasons related to the invasion of Ukraine that is imposed on any company that resorts to an ERTE to "try to survive the crisis . " "The most likely consequence will be that companies resort directly to layoffs ," they warn.

«Companies in the sector, despite having increased the prices of their products, are absorbing a large part of the increase in costs - not only of energy, but also of other raw materials - to the detriment of their income statements and profitability for try to maintain its international competitiveness. This situation is not sustainable taking into account that this economic and energy situation is not going to be solved in the short term ," they conclude from Ascer, an association that has already estimated the impact of Covid on the tile sector at 328 million euros .