Type
Closure
Country
France
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Saumur, Lattes, Grenoble
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Computer, Electrical Electronic And Optical Products
Manufacture Of Electrical Equipment
27.12 - Manufacture of electricity distribution and control apparatus

154 - 390 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
16 September 2020
Employment effect (start)
1 May 2021
Foreseen end date
31 December 2021

Description

The management of the French electrical equipment specialist, Schneider Electric, has presented a restructuring plan that provides for the closure of two plants, one at Lattes (Hérault, 80 employees) and the other at Saumur (Maine-et-Loire, 74 employees). In total, 154 job cuts are foreseen.

Schneider Electric's plan concerns its medium voltage branch. The Saumur site is specialised in the production of secondary cells, while the Lattes plant manufactures circuit breakers and light bulbs. The restructuring plan provides for their shutdown in the second half of 2021. However, the effects on employment will begin as soon as the employment safeguard plan is concluded.

'The reorganisation of medium-voltage production in France is the consequence of a sharp drop in activity and has been going on for several years,' a Schneider Electric spokesman said. According to the management, each employee will be offered a reclassification post.

Unions denounce relocations. While some positions will be transferred to new locations in France, according to the CFDT, ''a majority of positions will be relocated to Indonesia, Turkey, Hungary and India'.

The group has downsized its workforce in France in the last decade, mainly since the take over of Areva T&D in 2010. Several reorgaisations were recorded: 170 job cuts in 2016200 job cuts in 2014600 job cuts in 2013688 job cuts in 20061,043 job cuts in 2005318 job cuts in 2004 and 1,000 job cuts in 2003.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Schneider Electric, Closure in France, factsheet number 101889, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101889.