Tata Steel Netherlands announced Wednesday that it would cut 1,600 jobs in the Netherlands, citing sluggish demand in Europe and worldwide trade concerns.
The company, situated in IJmuiden near Amsterdam, stated that the layoffs will affect managerial and support functions, but would be offset by less duplication and increased automation.
It stated that the changes were necessary due to “challenging demand conditions in Europe, driven by geo-political developments, trade and supply chain disruptions, and energy costs”.
The statement was quickly met with criticism from the Netherlands’ largest umbrella union federation, FNV, which stated that it “did not understand” Tata’s intentions for restructuring.
“Even now, no detailed plans exist. “The only thing that has been created is chaos,” the FNV said in a statement.
Tata Steel said in November 2023 that it would eliminate 800 jobs at its under-pressure factory, which employs around 9,200 people in the Netherlands and 11,500 in total.
In truth, few positions were cut following the news.
