Continental to make 265 redundant in Puchov

June 16, 2009

TYRE PRODUCER Continental intends to lay off 265 workers at its plant in Puchov, Miroslav Ziacik from Puchov's Continental Matador Truck Tyres said on Monday, citing a press statement from Hannover's Continental AG attaché for international media Ildiko Kovacs.

Restructuring measures will concern Continental Matador Truck Tyres division that produces truck tyres. It will make 75 workers redundant by the end of November.

"The company has to solve excessive capacities of more than two million truck tyres, as well as those in the production of machines in Puchov. Due to the economic recession, the company has had to adjust its production capacities for truck tyres in Europe, and to implement a strategy entailing one production site for machines. Although many measures have been taken in all plants, the sustaining negative tendency on the market makes other measures of restructuring necessary," Kovacs said.

In her opinion, all-available measures have already been implemented; working time has been shortened, employing new workers has been stopped, and several workers have been offered an alternative job.

"Despite this, other measures are necessary. Currently a dialogue with the representatives of employees is ongoing," Continental's tyres division human resources director Friedrich Falkenreck said. "Our efforts are focused on providing working consultancy, aid, and the support to concerned employees."

The news on the prepared lay-offs have already been registered by Povazska Bystrica's Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office director Jan Sumega, who, however, hasn't received an official announcement as yet about Puchov.