Italy Textile Footwear Appeals For Government Support

Executives of Italy's textile, leather, footwear and eyewear industries say they have established a united front, calling on the government to help maintain jobs, wages and investment.

With the global economic turmoil hitting the retail industry, Italy executives of the textile, leather, footwear and eyewear industries said in December 15th that they had set up a united front to ask the government to help maintain jobs, wages and investment.

The group said in a statement that they had written to Italy Prime Minister Berlusconi (Silvio Berlusconi), calling on the government to convene an "emergency" meeting to discuss the negative impact of the global crisis on these sectors.

Italy is the largest exporter of clothing, textiles and footwear products among the 27 EU Member States.

Government agency SACE11 said at the beginning of the month that Italy's export growth is expected to slow significantly, especially in the next three years.

In the letter, the group called on the government to take measures to help maintain production, including raising credit lines for small and medium sized businesses in the textiles, footwear and eyewear industries, and reducing taxes on female workers to improve their working conditions.

According to the statement, female workers accounted for 65% of the labour force in these industries.

Experts predict that the luxury goods sector will face pressure in 2009.

Bain & C expects global luxury sales to grow by only 3% in 2008, compared with 9% in 2007.

Yang Jing: editor in charge