Most foreign workers in Iceland, 2,300, work in heavy industry reports the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV. 15 – 20% of foreign workers are employed in the food industry, 10 -15% in the fishing industry and 10 – 15% in services. According to forecasts, in the next 6 months, an additional 300 – 400 workers will be employed in heavy industry.
In a separate news item on RÚV, Minister of Industry and Commerce Valgerdar Sverrisdóttur said that Northern Icelanders “have never been closer to receiving an aluminum smelter than now”. Valgerdur said that a decision concerning a new aluminum smelter in Northern Iceland was independent of whether or not the smelters in the South West would be enlarged. The minister met with her constituents yesterday to discuss where to place the smelter, the three places most often mentioned Brimnes in Skagafjördur, Dysnes in Eyjafjördur and Bakki at Húsavík.
