Former employees in the industrial sectors of the Polish and Spanish economies will receive assistance in finding work.

This is because the European Commission has approved the allocation of two grants under the European Globalisation adjustment Fund, including €382,200 in funding to help 515 ex-employees of the Spanish automotive electrical equipment manufacturing sector in Catalonia.

An application for €114,250 from the Polish government has also won the backing of the European Union (EU) executive to help those who have lost jobs in the shipbuilding industry.

It will go towards assisting 189 individuals in the country who previously worked for H Cegielski-Poznan and its suppliers to seek new jobs.

"Shipbuilding will move to low cost areas, mainly in Asia, whose market share has been growing spectacularly in the recent years," EU commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion Laszlo Andor explained.

Both grants must now go in front of the European Parliament and the Council before being distributed.

Posted by Alex Donnell