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.
Financial Services Activities Auxiliary To Financial Services And Insurance Activities Activities Auxiliary To Financial Services And Insurance Activities 66.22 - Activities of insurance agents and brokers
4,000 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
4 December 2013
Employment effect (start)
4 December 2013
Foreseen end date
30 December 2016
Description
Achmea, the largest insurer in the Netherlands, is planning to reduce its current workforce by 4,000 over the next three years. The job cuts account for around one-fifth of Achmea’s global workforce.
According to the company, the job cuts are due to an increasing number of customers switching to online services. The job cuts will be carried out in the Netherlands as well as in other countries with the bulk of the cuts foreseen in the company's home country units (see factsheet 26060). The works council and trade union organisations have already been informed about the restructuring measures. According to reports, the company cannot rule out the need for compulsory job losses.
The company last announced large scale restructuring measures in 2009, resulting in the elimination of 2,500 jobs by 2011.
Achmea, formerly known as Eureko, which offers insurances in the field of health care, property and casualty, pensions and life insurance services, currently employs around 19,000 employees in the Netherlands. Next to its leading position in the Dutch market, Achmea also focuses on Turkey, Greece and Russia and has a presence in Slovakia, Ireland and Australia.
Sources
4 December 2013: Bloomberg
4 December 2013: Press release (Achmea)
4 December 2013: Reuters
Citation
Eurofound (2013), Achmea, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 76623, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/76623.
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions.
European labour markets have recovered strongly from COVID-19. By the end of 2021, little more than 18 months after the start of the pandemic, employment rates in the EU were almost at pre-crisis levels.
