World
No ‘fiscal and social dumping’ in EU, says Italiam PM
Milan, Feb 21 (IANS/AKI) Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday slammed US-owned electrical appliances manufacture Embraco’s plan to switch production to Slovakia and fire almost 500 workers at its plant in northwest Italy.
“We cannot allow forms of fiscal and social dumping within the European Union.
“We are at a delicate juncture for Italian industry and we must fight tooth and nail to prevent such risks from materialising,” he said in this northern Italian city where he was to open a new digital innovation centre and to receive a prize from research institute ISPI for enhancing Italy’s image abroad.
“For the government, the Embraco case is a prime example that concerns relations between EU states. If we want to invest in human capital, we cannot allow forms of fiscal and social dumping within the EU,” he underlined.
Italy’s Industry Minister Carlo Calenda has this week taken up the Embraco case with the European Commission see if Slovakia has breached European state aid rules and if Rome can be allowed to intervene without breaching those same rules.
Italy’s Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan on Wednesday said had “great faith” in European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager’s assessment of Embraco’s move to close its factory near Turin with the loss of 497 jobs and relocate production to its factory in Slovakia.
After a meeting with Calenda in Brussels, Vestager on Wednesday told reporters that EU structural funds could not be used for delocalisation within the bloc.
“These funds should be used to create new jobs, not to move jobs from one (EU) state to another,” she said.
Embraco, a subsidiary of US giant Whirlpool makes refrigerators and washing machines at its factory in Riva di Chieri, southeast of Turin.
The company has rejected requests by Italy’s government and trade unions to reinstate the sacked workers at Riva di Chieri.
–IANS/AKI
vd
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.