Robert Bosch, the world’s largest car parts supplier, announced a plan to reduce working hours and pay for approximately 10,000 employees across Germany. This comes after a previously announced workforce adjustment following the company’s decision to cut up to 5,550 jobs and reduce hours for 450 staff.
Affected employees, primarily on 38- or 40-hour contracts, will see their working hours reduced to 35 hours, according to a Bosch spokesperson, confirming a report by the dpa news agency.
As reported by Reuters, reductions reflect mounting pressures on Germany’s automotive sector, which faces weak demand and increased competition from lower-cost Chinese manufacturers. Other major players, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, are also grappling with the industry slowdown. Volkswagen is engaged in a dispute with workers over plans to close plants, while Mercedes has pledged deeper cost-cutting measures.
The latest moves by Bosch underscore the significant challenges confronting Germany’s auto industry as it navigates a period of economic and competitive turbulence.
