Elon Musk applies new layoff strategy and triggers the reaction of the government of a European country
This measure, which has already been implemented in the United States, clashed head-on with strict Italian labor laws and provoked a strong reaction.
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The billionaire Elon Musk, known for his ruthless business style and his ability to make radical decisions, has once again made headlines. This time, for a series of layoffs and adjustments that triggered a diplomatic crisis.
The latest episode of this saga took place at the Aviano U.S. Air Force Base in northern Italy. The Tesla and SpaceX magnate implemented his productivity control model at this facility, known for its aggressive nature and described by some as a "business chainsaw."
What seemed to be an internal measure for his employees in United States unexpectedly extended to the Italian workers, sparking an immediate reaction from unions, the Italian government, and the country's public opinion.
The email that sparked controversy in Italy
The scandal began when, through an email, civilian Italian employees at Aviano were demanded to report five weekly achievements, under threat of dismissal if they did not comply with the directive. Although the message seemed directed at United States workers, it was found in the emails of Italian employees, causing confusion and alarm.
This type of measure had already been implemented in other areas of Musk's administration, but as it clashed with Italy's strict labor laws, the incident acquired international significance.
Italy, with a labor system that guarantees stability and rights for workers, is not accustomed to the extreme productivity control practices that Musk promotes. The European country has laws that make dismissals difficult and protect employees with more solid contracts, so Musk's email was seen as a violation of those fundamental rights.
Roberto Del Savio, union representative of the base employees, made his rejection clear: "We are in Italy. Here, there are precise rules, and thank God for that".
The Italian labor system vs. Musk's policies
Italy has one of the most protected labor systems in Europe. The Italian Constitution guarantees the right to work, and its labor laws are known for providing stability and security to employees, especially in the public sector. Unlike United States, where dismissals can be easier and quicker, in Italy employers must provide clear legal justifications if they wish to dismiss an employee.
In this context, Musk's intervention was seen as an unacceptable interference in Italian labor rights. Pierpaolo Bombardieri, general secretary of the Uil union, did not hesitate to qualify Musk's email as "unacceptable and outrageous".
Faced with the generated outrage, the Italian unions demanded clarifications from both the Italian government and the U.S. embassy about the potential consequences of these policies for U.S. base workers in Italy.
In February of this year, the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) of the United States, led by Musk, dismissed over 350 officials from the Department of Energy.
While Musk quickly backtracked to rehire some specialists in sensitive areas such as nuclear warhead assembly, his cost-cutting approach continued to generate controversy.
*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence
