The clarification comes days after the steel giant announced it would axe 570 posts in the Grand Duchy across different segments.

ArcelorMittal says the restructuring is the firm’s response to the current economic crisis, combined with high importation taxes in the US, Asian competition and lack of protection at European level for companies meeting carbon emission standards.

Of the jobs to go, 87 will involve early retirements, 30 will be retirements, there will be 273 early retirement adjustment, 37 “other departures” and 274 whose fate has not yet been determined. Based on this calculation the actual number of jobs to be axed would be 578, up from the 570 originally stated by the firm, which employs a total workforce of 3,611.

Luxembourg labour minister Dan Kersch (LSAP) and economy minister Franz Fayot (LSAP) discussed the restructuring with MPs in parliament on Tuesday. Kersch was mostly dismayed the announcement had been made without consulting the government or unions, a view shared by MPs.

A parliamentary committee is looking into the matter and an official proposal for a steel tripartite was expected on Wednesday. Kersch said a job replacement programme could be the outcome of a tripartite meeting. There was a feeling among some MPs that ArcelorMittal is trying to take advantage of the current crisis to carry out a restructuring with state funds.

Whatever the outcome, Kersch stressed that no production line or site would be closed in Luxembourg, and the government would accept its political and financial responsibilities.

At the same time, ArcelorMittal will also have to respect its investment commitments.

On Monday, ArcelorMittal said in a press release that after a meeting with unions and government, everyone had set out their position and expectations. It said the firm was committed to studying “all the social support tools made available by Luxembourg law in order to find the best possible solution for the employees impacted by this project”, and participating in a “constructive social dialogue with a view to providing the employees concerned with clear answers on the support measures that will be defined.”

It added:

“The management of ArcelorMittal Luxembourg is convinced that this project will enable the Luxembourg steel industry to respond to the many current challenges it faces and thus continue to develop its activities.”

This article was amended on 18 Septembe to indictae that the number of job cuts is 578.