There has been a very rapid and severe deterioration in the steel market since last fall. The severe decline in production by our customers has meant a continued reduced workload for Åkers, and this has to be met by our own reductions in production and cost adjustments.

Owing to the prevailing situation, and following agreement with the trade union organizations, Åkers Sweden is introducing a temporary lay-off agreement. This will begin immediately.  

“We wish to avoid giving notices of redundancy other than to the fifty people already previously affected. This lay-off agreement means that we hope to be able to retain our staff despite a reduction in production and subsequent shortage of work,” says Kerstin Konradsson, MD of Åkers Sweden.

The lay-off agreement means that staff will be laid off work but will retain their jobs. During the lay-off period, 83% of salary will be guaranteed. The lay-offs will begin as early as the week after Easter, and several weeks of production stoppages are planned for the whole of the spring.

 “We are happy with this agreement as we want to prevent more redundancies at all costs,” says Jonas Ljung, chairman of the local branch of the IF Metall trade union.