(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 2 APR - "We are very pleased the European Commission has fulfilled our request to fast track the launch of the SURE unemployment reinsurance scheme and support short-time work measures," the European Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Luca Visentini said, commenting on to the European Commission's announcement of the SURE short-time work scheme.

"The situation of working people affected by the COVID-19 crisis is deteriorating from hour to hour and the last thing Europe needs amid the current health emergency is mass unemployment and another economic crisis," Visentini underlined.

"The SURE mechanism should help fund the short-time work and income compensation schemes already put in place by many member states to avoid redundancies and ensure workers will keep receiving their wages - Visentini added -, and we asked the Commission to ensure these measures are taken in all member states and support is extended to all groups of workers, in all sectors and companies of all sizes." The ETUC calls on "the Eurogroup and the Council to make urgent decisions to ensure SURE is immediately operational. European workers cannot wait any longer." (ANSA).