The French government expects thousands of layoffs to be announced in the coming weeks.

The French government announced this Saturday that thousands of layoffs will be announced in the coming weeks and months. like the ones presented this week by Auchan or Michelin, especially in industries subject to strong international competition, such as the automotive industry.

This was stated by Industry Minister Marc Ferracci in an interview with France Inter radio station. acknowledged that there are industries that are struggling and facing competition from the US and China. it’s “unfair” because of the subsidies the companies there receive.

“Factory closures, they will happen in the coming weeks,” The minister admitted that when asked how many jobs could disappear, he said he could not give a figure because they would try to discuss alternatives to closure with companies as potential buyers, or solutions for workers.

However, he said there would be “thousands of jobs.”

Tire maker Michelin said this week it will close two of its French factories. Cholet and Vannes, where 1,254 people work,

mainly due to competition from cheaper Asian-made tires, which have captured a significant part of the European market.

In addition, the distribution group Auchan announced a social plan that will mean the disappearance of 2,400 out of more than 53 thousand jobs in France.

Yesterday Ferracci was at the Michelin plant in Cholet, where he was booed during part of his visit.

The head of industry explained that the reason for this move was the organization monitoring committee, which must ensure that the company fulfills its obligations This has been created and, in particular, the conditions have been created so that as many jobs can be created in the region as those that will be destroyed.

Beyond this specific case, Ferracci stressed that the automotive sector needed a response from the entire community and that his government was preparing a series of proposals that would include “A European Approach to the Automotive Industry”.

Among these proposals, they are studying the introduction of a “European-scale environmental premium” to boost car sales, which have fallen in recent months.