Italy Textile, Shoe, Leather, Eyewear Indus Want Government Support

ROME -- Italy's textile, leather, shoe and eyewear industry leaders said Monday they have formed a united front to ask the government to help sustain jobs, salaries and investments, as the global economic turmoil batters the retail sector.

In a statement, the groups said they wrote a letter to Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, asking the government for an "urgent" meeting to discuss the negative effects of the global crisis on the sectors.

Italy is the largest exporter of clothing, textiles and shoes in the 27-member European Union. According to government agency SACE earlier this month, Italian export growth is expected to slow notably for the next three years.

The letter calls for the government to help maintain production with measures including facilitating credit lines for small- and medium-sized companies which make up the textile, shoe and eyewear industries, as well as cutting taxes on female workers, in order to improve their working conditions.

Female workers make up 65% of these industries' work force, the statement said.

Experts expect the luxury sector, which these industries serve, to face pressure into 2009. Bain & Co. expects worldwide luxury good sales to rise only 3% in 2008, from a 9% on-year increase last year.