Global steel giant ArcelorMittal is to reduce its workforce in the Czech Republic by 10 percent because of weaker demand and the worsening economic situation, as reported by international news agencies. The multinational steel company based in Luxembourg employs about 6,000 people in the Czech Republic.
This is yet another announcement of closure or suspension of activity at one of the European plants owned by ArcelorMittal. In recent days, the company announced that its wire rod plants in Veriña, Spain will suspend operations on December 6-13 and December 19-January 2. In recent months, the crisis has also affected ArcelorMittal's Belgian (Liège), French and German subsidiaries.
Meanwhile, reports from Krakow say the steel giant intends to lay off 1,000 workers at its Polish facilities at Dąbrowa Górnicza at the beginning of 2012, in order to bring production into line with demand. The site, however, seems at risk of closure, in which case about 3,000 workers would lose their jobs.