Bosch will cut 2,000 Jobs

Robert Bosch plans to reduce costs in its automotive division by not renewing temporary workers’ contracts and possibly cutting jobs outside its German home market, a company spokesman said on Saturday.

“We are currently using all instruments that we have to avoid job cuts,” the spokesman said, denying a report that Bosch planned to eliminate up to 2,000 jobs in the division.

In some factories in Germany, the company would reduce the number of hours its employees worked every week to 30 from 35 to lower personnel costs.

Job cuts were possible outside Germany “where we cannot make use of such flexible employment models”, the spokesman said, without saying how many workers may have to go.
German weekly auto “motor und sport” earlier cited Bernd Bohr, head of Bosch’s automotive division as saying Bosch could cut jobs around the world to reduce costs after sales in October and November slumped by 20 percent.

The world’s biggest automotive supplier by sales said on Friday it would “badly miss” its 2008 targets and expected no growth in 2009 as the global economic downturn hits home.

Earlier, Management of Bosch has declared an indefinite lockout of all workmen from the plant operations at its Jaipur plant with effect from 12 December, 2008.

The plant has around 1,200 employees and manufactures pumps for use in the tractor and commercial vehicle (CV) segment.

The company has taken the decision as a result of workmen not reporting for work and continuing their illegal and unlawful strike, even after it was termed illegal and prohibited by the Government of Rajasthan.

From Guardian