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Opel engine production in Kaiserslautern: the traditional manufacturer has its back to the wall
Photo: Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Short-time working at the car manufacturer Opel is expected to be extended until the end of 2021 - provided the employment agency agrees.
Management and the general works council have agreed on this as a result of the corona crisis, as the company announced on Saturday.
In addition, the subsidiary of the French PSA group (Peugeot) wants to open its partial retirement program to all employees born in 1964, according to a key issues paper.
The car manufacturer has been struggling with internal problems for years, this year the general car sales crisis as a result of the corona pandemic was added.
In Europe, the most important market, the authorities allowed a good 50 percent fewer Opel models this year than in 2019. The overall market only shrank by a good 30 percent.
For some parts of the company - so-called focus areas - Opel is now considering transfer companies.
These employ people at risk of unemployment for a limited time and look for new jobs for them.
Few employees want to leave Opel voluntarily
Specifically, the Rüsselsheim location was named, along with the parts warehouse and design areas.
A "special program" is also planned there for those born between 1961 and 1964.
Opel did not give details.
"Agreements on the individual points must be concluded in the next few days," said the company.
The VRM Group's newspapers had previously reported on the agreement.
Opel recently brought redundancies into play in the event that an agreed volunteer program to cut jobs by the end of 2021 did not find the desired 2,100 participants.
So far, only about 500 employees have decided to leave.
Opel boss Michael Lohscheller had also emphasized that he was confident that he could find good solutions with the works council.
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nis / dpa