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.
On 17 November 2010, Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche announced plan to close its plant in the Styrian capital Graz, thus all 400 employees will lose their jobs by the end of 2013.
The closure of Graz plant is part of the company's worldwide restructuring programme 'Operational Excellence', whereby some 4,800 jobs will be made redundant overall (see case 16343). The development and production of diagnostics, which has been concentrated in the Graz plant, will be relocated to the Swiss town of Rotkreuz, where the headquarters of Roche's business line 'Professional Diagnostics' is located. Roche Diagnostics had been an important part of the Styrian human technology cluster. The first dismissals are scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2011 at the earliest. By the end of 2013, the plant will be shut down.
The company's spokesperson in Graz showed surprise at the unexpected announcement and promised to try to find fair solutions for the affected workers which might include social plans. The regional Chamber of Labour harshly criticised the company's announcement, and plans to examine whether the pharmaceutical company will have to repay funds it has so far received.
Eurofound (2010), Roche, Internal restructuring in Austria, factsheet number 71208, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/71208.