IHI Bernex AG: massive job cuts at Swiss site - Employees Switzerland demands solutions

Employees Switzerland is deeply concerned that the company IHI Bernex AG intends to lay off 35 of 42 employees, thereby almost completely closing the Swiss site. The tasks previously carried out in Olten, particularly in the area of production, are to be assumed by employees at the Dutch site. Only a few employees from the research and development department, as well as service technicians, will remain at the Olten site.

The announced measures raise fundamental questions, especially regarding the corporate values communicated by IHI Bernex AG itself.

On the company's website, under the title 'Taking responsibility', the company commits to statements such as 'taking care about our colleagues' or 'we take responsibility for everything we have and have not done.'

The planned job cuts are in clear tension with these values.

It is therefore all the more important that the planned job cuts are not implemented unilaterally but involve the social partners.

"It is important that the employees' representation recognizes that they can be relieved through professional support from experts from employee associations and gain a professional external perspective. We are ready for this," emphasizes Tanja Riepshoff, attorney at Employees Switzerland. Employees Switzerland also calls upon the management of IHI Bernex AG to live up to their social responsibility.

This includes, in particular:

- A binding social plan,

- Fair and adequate cushioning measures for those affected,

- Serious and intensive efforts to provide employees affected by layoffs with a comparable position in other companies of the IHI Group, such as Ionbond in Olten or Dulliken,

- Professional support for career reorientation,

- Examination of alternative and innovative measures to avert layoffs,

- Transparent information and early dialogue with employees and employee representatives.

Socially responsible solutions are critical to minimize the impact of layoffs and to offer affected employees perspectives. This may also include attractive early retirement solutions for employees whose chances in the job market are limited due to the generally tense situation in the tech industry. Employees Switzerland is available for discussions and expects IHI Bernex AG to execute the announced job cuts responsibly and in the interest of the employees.

Press contact:

Tanja Riepshoff, Attorney Employees Switzerland
tanja.riepshoff@angestellte.ch, +41 44 360 11 54

Tanja Tanneberger, Communications Employees Switzerland
tanja.tanneberger@angestellte.ch, +41 44 360 11 21

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