BNamericas reported that Brazilian steelmaker Usiminas, which is producing at roughly 50% capacity, will offer voluntary dismissal packages to workers at its Ipatinga plant in Belo Horizonte from May 4th 2009 to May 22nd 2009. The proposal was approved by the Ipatinga union in a Minas Gerais state labor court.

Usiminas did not provide figures for the severance packages or say how many employees are expected to leave. However, an Usiminas spokesperson told BNamericas that the company's goal is to lower wages to 10% of the company's overall fixed costs.

Three out of the company's five blast furnaces are halted, of which two are at Ipatinga and the other at the Cubatão operation in São Paulo state.

(Sourced from www.bnamericas.com)