Vitmeco's administrative council, the main shareholder of the aluminium factory ALRO Slatina decided to fire 1,800 people of the 3,500 employees. Moreover, the council took the decision to close up five production wharehouses, NewsIn informs. Union leaders from ALRO declared that the decision is just a first step until the society will be entirely shut down by Spring 2009.

Union leaders declared that the decision was caused by Vitmeco's wish to sustain their investments in China. Leaders of the 7 unions at ALSO signed on Friday a protest note as a reaction against Vitmeco's decision.

They accuse the administration of using some 250 million dollars of credits to develop their production capacity in China instead of maintaining the Romanian branch. ALRO Slatina director, Gheorghe Dobra refused to make any comments.