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.
Transportation / Storage Land, Water And Air Transportation Water Transport 50.10 - Sea and coastal passenger water transport
509 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
3 July 2020
Employment effect (start)
3 July 2020
Foreseen end date
Description
The shipping company Eckerö has started negotiations with trade unions for 509 job cuts, following the announcement of the closure of one of their affiliate companies in Sweden, Birka Cruises. Employees affected by the closure are employed by Eckerö. 43 of the affected employees work at the head office in Stockholm with the remaining 466 employees working onboard.
Birka Cruises has operated daily cruises in the Swedish archipelago and multi-day cruises around the Baltic area for 49 years. All activity has been closed since March 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The marketing director of Birka Cruises argues that the business has specialised in cruises for pleasure which makes it difficult for the company to survive during crises.
Birka Cruises is a part of the Finnish shipping group Eckerö, based in Mariehamn in the Åland islands.
Eurofound (2020), Eckerö , Closure in Sweden, factsheet number 101977, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101977.
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