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The Volvo Group said on Monday that it would be left with no option than to reduce its workforce by about 4100 in the second half of 2020 as part of the measures to reduce cost and accelerate transformation.
The Swedish Group maintained that the decision was further informed by the fact that the COVID 19 crisis is expected to have a negative effect on economic activity in many of the its major markets in the short and medium term.
In an official statement, Volvo confirmed that it has continuously adjusted its operations to lower demand from record levels in the first half of 2019 by utilizing the installed flexibility, while at the same time accelerating the transformation towards sustainable transport solutions.
It said as the next step, the Volvo Group plans to further reduce the white-collar workforce globally by approximately 4,100 positions during the second half of 2020.
“The Corona epidemic and the global measures taken to fight it has led to a market situation impacting our industry severely. The effects are expected to be lower demand going forward and we need to continue to adjust our organization accordingly.
“In parallel, we will accelerate the competence shift needed for new technologies and business models,” the statement quoted Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group, as saying.
Since mid-2019, the Volvo Group has adjusted its activity levels by using the installed flexibility, terminating temporary and consultant contracts. During the second half of this year, the Group plans to further decrease the white-collar workforce with approximately 4,100 positions whereof around 15 per cent are consultants. Approximately 1,250 of these positions are in Sweden.
The need for staff reductions would have been higher without various governmental support packages enabling short-term layoffs and other similar measures.
The staff reductions will be carried out in different ways across the Group, depending on the local business situation, country legislation and labor market practices. In some countries, including Sweden, the planned measures include notices of redundancy.
“The Volvo culture will continue to be our guiding star in this work, where we will work as one team together with the unions to make this adjustment in a responsible way,” Lundstedt said.
He added; “With these changes, the Volvo Group will maintain a position of strength, be adapted to the new market situation and continue to be a leader in the transformation towards sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions.”
