There are not enough orders, and operational redundancies are excluded: Opel now announces short-time working for its main plant in Rüsselsheim. The automaker sweeps there for six months the late shift. In consultation with the works council, the company has reported to the Employment Agency short-time work for most of the approximately 2600 employees at the production plant, said an Opel spokesman, confirming reports from the Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche.
Employees receive short-time working pay as compensation for non-working hours and a surcharge from Opel. The development center and other central units of the car maker are not affected.
In the auto plant belonging to the French PSA group, the production of the family car Zafira expired in the summer, and sales of the sedan Insignia are weakening. Only in the year 2021 comes with the compact car Astra a second model in the Opel main plant and this is sustained secure. Until then, the employees should be kept as far as possible in the company. "This step serves to create a socially acceptable bridge solution", the company explained the short-time work. Operational layoffs are excluded at the German Opel locations until summer 2023.