Holostem licenzia 50 dipendenti, i sindacati denunciano la crisi

Fondazione Tech e Biomedical and the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy are initiating collective dismissal procedures for approximately 50 employees at Holostem, a Modena-based biotechnology firm.

The move follows months of unresolved labor disputes and failed attempts to secure a new industrial partner for the company.

The announcement, which originated from the Filctem Cgil union in Modena and Emilia-Romagna, marks a sharp reversal for a firm previously recognized for its contributions to advanced cell therapies, specifically Holoclar, used for treating severe ocular surface lesions.

Union representatives have publicly challenged the foundation’s stated objectives, citing a lack of transparency regarding the company’s future. Filctem Cgil and the internal works council (RSU) said that the new industrial plan referenced by management has never been presented to or shared with the workforce, despite repeated requests for dialogue.

La Pressa reported that the union views the dismissals as a direct contradiction to the foundation’s original 2020 mission, which was established with public funding specifically to support technology transfer and research.

The situation involves the collapse of a liquidation process intended to maintain business continuity. Local government bodies, including the Municipality and Province of Modena, along with the Emilia-Romagna Region, had actively supported efforts to identify a suitable industrial partner. An offer from a qualified party was submitted and reportedly received a favorable initial assessment from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT).

The current impasse leaves the future of Holostem’s clinical operations in doubt. Employees and union officials maintain that the company’s achievements over the last three years were driven solely by staff dedication to therapies for patients who lack alternative treatments.

As the collective dismissal procedure moves forward, the primary concern for the local labor force remains the lack of a clear, shared industrial roadmap. No further communication has been provided by the foundation regarding the specific technical reasons for rejecting the previous acquisition offer.

La situazione resta critica mentre i sindacati denunciano la mancanza di risposte chiare da parte della Fondazione Tech e Biomedical e del Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy in merito alla procedura di licenziamento collettivo per i dipendenti di Holostem.