250 employees of the Kurum company in Elbasan have been laid off for an indefinite period. The decision was made on August 20 in the discussion between the Turkish company that manages the metallurgical and the trade unions in the country.

Kurum society and trade union representatives reached an agreement on a collective layoff on August 20. The two sides say that it is about no more than 250 employees of the two plants, that of steel and rolling, for an indefinite period, but at least 90 days, while the rest will work no more than 22 days per month.

For the Turkish company, the reasons are related to the crisis in the steel industry sector, where the lack of raw material led to the closure of the plant on August 1 and August 15.

In the agreement signed by the union leaders of the two factories and the Federation of Industrial Employees’ Unions with the representatives of the company, it is stated that the collective layoff is due to necessary economic reasons, provided for in the Labor Code and in the Collective Contract.

The trade unionists claim that the company’s difficulties have been known for a year and they were aware that this day of collective holidays would come, while they hope very much in the resumption of work as soon as possible after investments and overcoming the difficult situation.

The collective strike comes at a time when a scandal has erupted within the country regarding the circulation of hazardous waste through the port of Durrës, for which the Kurum company is also considered responsible for their production.