Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
LOWA, a German outdoor footwear manufacturer, is closing its production facility in Handlová, Slovakia, resulting in the loss of 195 jobs. The company, which has operated in the region since 2006, officially announced the closure to its employees in April 2025, with production expected to cease by the end of July 2025.
According to LOWA representatives and the mayor of Handlová, the decision stems from a shift in the company’s strategic focus, with plans to concentrate manufacturing activities in Germany and Italy. Although no single reason was cited, rising operational costs and efforts to streamline production played a role in the move.
All 195 employees at the Handlová facility will be affected, many of whom have been with the company for over a decade. LOWA has pledged to meet all legal obligations, including severance payments, and is cooperating with the local labor office and other institutions to support the workforce during the transition.
The regional job market is expected to face difficulties in absorbing the displaced workers. However, several nearby employers—such as Brose, GeWiS Slovakia, and SLK—have already expressed interest in hiring affected employees. A job fair is scheduled for early May 2025, and individual consultations with job seekers began on April 29.
The closure of LOWA’s Handlová plant follows the recent announcement of ECCO’s exit from Martin and underscores a broader trend of foreign manufacturers scaling back operations in Slovakia due to rising labor and production costs
Eurofound (2025), Lowa Production, Closure in Slovakia, factsheet number 202836, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/202836.