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.
Retail Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles Retail Sale In Non-Specialised Stores 47.11 - Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating
200 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
21 January 2019
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
Description
The Swedish company Ica, specialised in the grocery retail sector, has announced plans to dismiss 200 employees in back office roles. The affected units are located in the two cities of Solna and Västerås. The job losses are part of the company’s plan to save SEK 180 million (€17 million), which are to be invested into digitalisation and automation. The cuts include existing jobs and vacancies, and are expected to be implemented in the second half of 2019. Ica is currently undertaking negotiations with the trade union on the format of the cuts.
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.
