prime minister Sanna Marin said on Friday night that the government has pledged to provide financial support to alleviate the pain of possible significant job losses due to the planned cuts in the Naantali oil refinery.
"Together, we need to find opportunities and a vision for the future that can create hope for the future for people, families and workers. And it is important that we do this work together," Marin said in media comments on Friday night.
The Prime Minister said that in his view, the planned closure of the Naanatl refinery was in line with Neste’s long-term strategy of moving towards more environmentally friendly energy solutions.
He stated that in this regard, the government could use hundreds of millions of euros allocated from the EU stimulus fund to Finland to direct Naantali to a greener economy.
Marin visited the city of southwestern Finland with the Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä and the Minister of Labor, Tuula Haatainen. After the round, the state oil company Neste announced on Monday that it plans to start talks on cutting jobs and possibly closing oil refining operations in the city.
The ministers spoke with the managers of the Naantali refinery on Friday and also met with workers and city representatives.
Haatainen: Resources are not a problem
Minister of Labor Tuula Haatainen stated that it is important for people at risk of losing their jobs to create confidence that they will do everything possible to find a new job.
He noted that a broad united front had already begun work to manage the shock and added that creating new employment opportunities does not depend on money.
"Everything that is planned and done for people at risk of losing their jobs receives the full support of the state. This area also has good resources. The labor administration has more than EUR 10 million in unallocated funding, so resources are available and independent of money," Haatainen said.
Lintilä: The rapporteur will be appointed
At the same time, Lintilä said he believed that a very difficult situation would give birth to a new beginning. He added that his ministry intends to appoint a rapporteur with solid industrial networks and able to identify new opportunities for the region.
"Preferably someone who has a heart and soul in Naantali and Southwest Finland and who brings something concrete to the situation."
He said that a rapporteur would be appointed "as soon as possible."
Working group established
Earlier on Friday, Lintilä said in Yle’s breakfast talk program in Yle’s morning that if Neste continues its plans to close the refinery, the government will establish a structural working group.
In the meantime, on Monday, Marin had already been in contact with the mayor of Naantali Jouni Mutanen. At the time, he stressed that the government bears responsibility for the possible closure of the refinery and supports both workers and the struggling area.
Mutanen called on the government to implement change management measures to support employees and mitigate the impact of potential financial losses on the city and region if the planned layoffs materialize.
The closure of the refinery is expected to significantly weaken the city’s corporate and municipal tax revenues. However, city leaders say it is too early to assess its full economic impact.
The city itself has joined forces with regional bodies to set up a change management group. The group includes representatives from the city, the local business, transport and environment center (Ely center), the business community, education providers and other key organizations. It aims to identify ways to provide new training and employment opportunities for displaced workers.
Source: The Nordic Page