Shipyards will stop production unless government helps them

opublikowano: 2008-10-29 15:05

Brussels wants the government to confirm that it accepts the idea to close shipyards and then conduct privatization.

The European Commission has sent a motion to the ministry of the treasury demanding a reply whether Poland accepts the privatization plans for Gdynia and Szczecinska Nowa shipyards proposed by Brussels. They provide for selling the assets of the shipyards and close down the companies. This solution is not possible according to Polish law and the government is preparing special bills.

However, even if the new law is adopted in December, it may be too late for shipyards.

“We would like to ask for support for current operations in order to continue production”, Krzysztof Fidura, the head of Solidarnosc trade union at Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa said.

“Next year, the portfolio of orders will be empty. Unless the shipyard quickly gets new contracts, it may stop production early next year”, Dariusz Adamski, the head of Solidarnosc and the member of supervisory board of Gdynia shipyard added.