29/05/2008

Indesit Company wins a 2008 Sodalitas Social Award

Refrontolo Agreement judged best human capital development programme

Milan, 29th June 2008 – Indesit Company won an award at the 6th “Sodalitas Social Awards”, promoted by Sodalitas and recognized by the President of the Republic. The awards go to enterprises, employer associations and industrial districts actively engaged in social initiatives through the development of ethical conduct and the day-to-day application of their declared values.
Indesit Company was given its award in the “human capital development programme” category for its implementation of the most significant and socially effective project: the International Framework Agreement with the trade unions, and within it, the Refrontolo Agreement, which saw the involvement of the company, trade unions and local authorities.

The International Framework Agreement was the first of its kind in Europe and is based on principles such as environmental protection, observance of the basic labour standards approved by the ILO and the guarantee of decent working conditions for employees. In 2006, this Agreement gave rise to the Refrontolo Agreement in response to inevitable downsizing the Refrontolo plant (Treviso). The agreement provided for measures to incentivize jobs rather than assistance by paying subsidies directly to companies that gave indefinite term contracts to Refrontolo employees, whose skills and professionalism were seen as human capital of great value to local industry.
Over and above the satisfaction of the employees involved and the achievement of business objectives, the Refrontolo Agreement was acclaimed by various organizations in Italy and abroad, including the ILO in Turin, the 2006 “Premio Etica & Impresa” (an Italian awards system for agreements and best CSR practice between companies and employees) and the 2007 Brussels Marketplace.

Indesit Company is Europe’s second biggest manufacturer of household appliances by market share and the world’s fifth. Founded in 1975 by the current chairman Vittorio Merloni and listed on the Milan stock exchange since 1987, the Group posted sales of over €3.4 billion in 2007, having turned out around 16 million appliances. Indesit, Hotpoint-Ariston and Scholtès are the Group’s main brands. Indesit Company operates through 17 production facilities and 24 commercial branches worldwide and employs over 17,000 people



For further information:
Press Office
Federico Ziller, phone: +39 0732 66 2432, cell. 335 75 55 508
e-mail: federico.ziller@indesit.com
Chiara Iasiuolo, phone: +39 0732 66 2048, cell. 334 66 60 247
e-mail: chiara.iasiuolo@indesit.com