EMCC European Monitoring Centre on Change

Vitkovice Heavy Machinery

Company/Organisation:
Vitkovice Heavy Machinery

Geographic Location

Country: Czechia
Region: Moravskoslezsky; Moravskoslezsko
Location of affected unit(s): Ostrava

Company

Sector: Manufacturing
Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.
28.41 - Manufacture of metal forming machinery
Number Employed: 800

Employment Effects

Announcement Date: 30-03-2020
Planned Job Reductions min: 350
Type of Restructuring: Internal restructuring
Employment Effect Start: 01-04-2020

Additional Information

Vitkovice Heavy Machinery, a Czech engineering and metallurgical company, has announced 350 job cuts due to the current economic challenges associated with the outbreak of COVID-19. The company, which employs 800 workers, was facing economic loses before the coronavirus outbreak and is now no longer able to sustain all of its financial operations and production. 

The company resumed the operation of heavy machinery in early April 2020, after a short term termination of manufacturing in March 2020. During the shutdown, workers received 80 per cent of their salaries. Currently, the company aims to revitalise production in the steel plant. The foundry, moulding and cleaning plant, which are unprofitable and uncompetitive, according to the company's management, will be permanently shut down. 

The redundancies will be carried out in accordance with the Czech collective dismissals regulations.

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