The Canadian Press reported that ArcelorMittal will indefinitely shut down some of its operations at Contrecoeur in Quebec in Canada affecting about 190 employees.

As per report, it is planning to shut down its Contrecoeur mill on April 18 and its steel slab production June 27.

The report cited a company spokesman as saying that the shutdown is the result of slumping demand for steel and will likely last longer than six months.

The union said it has requested an emergency meeting with the company to minimize the effects of the layoffs.

The United Steelworkers union said that 450 workers were already laid off when the hot mill and cold mill operations were shut down in 2008.

The Contrecoeur location, formerly known as Sidbec Dosco and acquired by ArcelorMittal's predecessor company years ago, currently employs 825 people, about 590 of which are members of the Steelworkers union.

(Sourced from The Canadian Press)