Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Sweden
Region
Sydsverige; Skåne län;
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Transportation / Storage
Land, Water And Air Transportation
Land Transport And Transport Via Pipelines
49.31 - Urban and suburban passenger land transport

255 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
12 June 2020
Employment effect (start)
1 August 2020
Foreseen end date

Description

The bus operator Nobina is going to dismiss 255 bus drivers in Skåne, Southern Sweden due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the company, the notifications of dismissals have been already sent, and they will take effect in August. Nobina reports that these job cuts are needed since Skånetrafiken, the regional public transportation authority, has decided to cut down the number of bus lines operated by the company due to the drop in the passenger volumes. 

More in detail, Skånetrafiken specifies that the number of passengers has decreased by 50% between March and June 2020. Despite the regional authority will receive financial support from the State, it argues that the amount of the aid will only cover the losses of 3-4 months, therefore there is the need to cut some lines. 

Representatives of trade union Kommunal argues that the decision of Skånetrafiken to cut down the bus lines is irresponsible since it might lead to more crowded buses. Employees' representatives of Nobina criticise Skånetrafiken’s decision by arguing that bus drivers are an occupational group that has been exposed to the risk of getting ill throughout the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is therefore offensive that some of these workers will now also lose their jobs.

Nobina is one of the most significant bus transport groups in the Nordic region, operating in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Nobina, Internal restructuring in Sweden, factsheet number 100921, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/100921.