Crisis in the automotive industry: Schaeffler reduces working hours

The supplier Schaeffler, which has been affected by the slump in the automotive industry, has to extend its contingency plan . From December, the contracts for employees whose working time has been increased from 35 to 40 hours will be repatriated.

The reduction applies to the first divisions, and then the same measure should be taken in other areas. Schaeffler locations without collective bargaining coverage and the Bühl location, where another collective agreement applies, are excluded. In addition, the Erlangen-Frauenaurach plant will start short-time work for 250 of the 500 employees working there from September onwards.

Schaeffler is suffering from the fall in production in the automotive industry and the technological pressure to change from the combustion engine to alternative drives. Already in March, the company had presented a crisis plan, which includes the possibility of short-time working and additional closing days on bridge days.

"The goal of all measures continues to be to avoid redundancies," the spokeswoman said. The contracts reduced to 35 hours could be raised again in better economic situation in agreement of employees and employer.