Saint-Gobain Sekurit will cease production in Portugal “due to accumulated losses in recent years”, having already begun the process of collective layoffs of 130 workers, the Saint-Gobain Group announced on Tuesday.
“Saint-Gobain Sekurit Portugal will cease its production activities due to losses accumulated in recent years due to automotive sector crisis and is compounded by the low competitiveness of the company’s products in comparison with its competitors in the international market, ”the statement said.
According to him, the process of collective dismissal of 130 workers has already begun through an official appeal to the Workers’ Committee and the General Directorate of Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT).
According to the company, “due to a situation that in the past few years has led to the punishment of workers whose wages have been frozen, Saint gobain Sekurit Portugal will offer higher reimbursement than the statutory requirement, in addition to benefits that are in addition to the reimbursement amount that somehow help compensate for the loss of a job. ”
Between 2018 and 2020, an automotive glass manufacturer based in Santa Iria da Azoia, municipality of Loures, reported that it had accumulated a loss of € 8.5 million, covered by a shareholder “through consistent funding”.
In 2019, there was a “decline in turnover of 18%, which corresponds to a fall of ten million euros, which intensified in 2020 with a decrease of 37%, about 17 million euros less,” the company adds.
“The company’s financials are all negative and are not expected to change in the coming years, which will put pressure on other divisions of the group that are suffering losses to Saint-Gobain Sekurit Portugal,” he says.
In Portugal, the Saint-Gobain group currently employs about 800 people in 11 companies and eight factories with a turnover of around € 180 million.
The Group recalls that it has begun construction in Maya of a new 9,000 square meter plant for Saint-Gobain Abrasivos, and has also renovated the industrial park and glass furnace at the Covipor manufacturing facility in Santo Tirso.
The group also recently announced that it has completed an expansion of the pulp line at Saint-Gobain Portugal SA in Aveiro and is expanding its warehouse. collection a division of this company in Carregado, “which will be 1,854 square meters, with the aim of creating new business areas.”
“Between current and newly developed projects, the total investment exceeds seven million euros,” he emphasizes.
With regard to Saint-Gobain Sekurit Portugal, the group notes that “the problems arose more than a decade ago as the company was repeatedly restructured in an effort to minimize structural and operating costs.”
“Until now, it was only possible to support the company with the understanding and participation of employees and due to the constant capitalization of the company by partners. However, the pandemic COVID-19 it exacerbated an already volatile situation by significantly increasing the contraction of the car market without the possibility of recovery in the short, medium and long term, ”he explains.
