Volkswagen to axe 3,000 jobs in Bratislava
The Bratislava Volkswagen plant announced it will axe 3,000 of its current 14,000 jobs by June. It will reduce the number of shifts, depriving workers of some bonuses (saving on wages in the process). Following massive investment in the past few years, the plant strives to improve productivity and cut wage costs that have swelled due to the 2017 6-day strike and last year’s increase in night, weekend, and holiday pay. Its post-2022 production portfolio is uncertain as VW intends to stop making small cars VW Up!, Škoda Citigo and Seat Mii, which are assembled in Bratislava. Under pressure from German labor unions, VW refused to move production of electric cars to Bratislava.
