Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Germany
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Retail
Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles
Retail Sale In Non-Specialised Stores
47.19 - Other retail sale in non-specialised stores

2,000 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
18 July 2012
Employment effect (start)
18 July 2012
Foreseen end date
31 December 2014

Description

The retail chain Karstadt intends to cut 2,000 positions by the end of 2014. The job cuts will be realised by natural attrition.

According to the management, the restructuring is necessary to remain competitive and ensure long-term success. The plans are criticized by the United Services Union (ver.di), which points out the need for modernising work organisation and sales products.

The plans were announced when Karstadt was about to resume normal employee remuneration in accord with the sector's collective agreement, after staff had received reduced entitlements for the past three years to allow for the turnaround of the company.

Karstadt employs about 24,400 staff. The chain was taken over by investor Nicolas Berggruen in 2010 after being threatened with insolvency.


Sources

  • 17 July 2012: Financial Times Deutschland

Citation

Eurofound (2012), Karstadt, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 73908, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73908.