KLM employees who were laid off due to the coronavirus crisis will receive financial support from the European Union. The amount involved is five million euros, designated directly for these former KLM employees. This was decided by the European Parliament on Monday.
The funds can be used by the laid-off KLM workers for retraining, finding new jobs, or starting their own businesses. Laid-off employees from three other EU countries will also receive financial assistance.
The aid money goes directly to over 1,200 former KLM employees and is not intended for the company itself. The Netherlands submitted a request for these workers to the European EFG corona fund, and the European Parliament has now approved this request.
Former KLM employees are expected to use the REU subsidy for training, transportation, or accommodation costs. Local employment agencies are tasked with assisting them in this.
Not only will five million euros be allocated to the Dutch workers, but 1.8 million euros will also be made available to support laid-off Finnair employees in Finland. In addition, 3.7 million euros will be provided to 1,500 dismissed Belgian airport workers, and 1.1 million euros will support five hundred German metalworkers who lost their jobs.
The EFG fund was not created because of the coronavirus crisis. It has existed since 2007 with the objective of protecting workers in the EU against the negative effects of globalization. The crisis in the aviation sector caused by the pandemic falls under this remit.
Member of the European Parliament Jeroen Lenaers (CDA) welcomes the allocation of financial support to these former KLM employees. ‘This support package is broadly supported in the European Parliament precisely because it is not intended for the KLM company. It is meant for training, retraining programs for the unemployed, and helping them get back into work. European solidarity at its best.’