Volkswagen, Germany's automotive giant, is reportedly planning to close at least three factories in the country and significantly downsize its remaining operations, leading to the potential loss of tens of thousands of jobs. This move comes as a response to the country's economic challenges, including the impact of sanctions on Russia, soaring energy costs, and ongoing issues with migration policies.
According to the Volkswagen works council, the company's management has informed employees about these drastic measures. The Osnabrück plant is said to be particularly vulnerable, having recently lost a crucial follow-up order from Porsche. Additionally, the company is reportedly planning to implement mass layoffs and relocate entire departments overseas.
The Volkswagen works council has vowed to resist these plans, as the proposed actions could have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of workers. The German government has also weighed in, with a spokesperson stating that the chancellor's stance is clear - "that possible wrong management decisions from the past should not be borne by the employees."
The green socialist federal government shows the usual action-reaction pattern: any blame is dismissed, blamed on others to deflect suspicion that it could be their own infantile ideology that is causing such collateral damage, which is irreparable for the foreseeable future.