UPIVEB – the Association of Italian Fastener Manufacturers – has released an announcement on behalf of its members regarding the current emergency of Coronavirus Covid-19.
In the announcement UPIVEB states: “In this time of great uncertainty due to the spread of the COVID‐19 epidemic worldwide, the Association of Italian Fastener Manufacturers (UPIVEB) considers it essential to inform the market that the member companies have taken steps to implement the security measures necessary to protect the health of its workers in accordance with the Prime Ministerial Decree of 11th March 2020 (the Decree) and the ‘Protocol for the regulation of measures to combat and contain the spread of the Covid‐19 virus in the workplace’ agreed between the Italian government, trade unions and employers in implementation of article 1, subsection 1, no. 9 of said Decree.”
UPIVEB confirms that most of its member companies are currently operational and are making every effort to meet the contractual obligations towards their customers, mostly foreign and largely operating in the automotive sector.
The association also points out that 75% of Italian fastener production is in fact destined abroad, particularly Europe. “The situation of contagions outside Italy is currently less serious. However, there are no shared guidelines at a European level regarding the opportunity to keep industrial production active. Each country, customer, and manufacturer, is moving independently with potential consequence and future repercussions in terms of competition between companies belonging to different countries.”
UPIVEB continues: “The fastener production sector’s strong propensity to export means that member companies are unable to take unilateral positions. This would have an inevitable and direct impact on the activities of their foreign partners, resulting in possible contractual breaches, potential damages and related legal consequences.
In expressing concern about the evolution of the pandemic in Italy and around the world, UPIVEB member companies are contemplating closing their Italian production facilities, which would be a highly responsible choice considering the severity of the current emergency.
The implementation of these hypothetical measures needs to be supported by a strong political consensus and a concrete legal basis, which we hope will be achieved rapidly at the European level.”
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 15 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector - interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe.
Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the Magazine is renowned.
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