One month after the decision to close the Zalando logistics center in Erfurt, the workforce comes together for a kind of crisis meeting. Hundreds are expected at the first works meeting this Thursday, which will focus on the professional future of the online fashion retailer’s 2,700 employees. In order to provide space for everyone, the works council has rented an exhibition hall in Erfurt.
And according to the works council, it is translated simultaneously – the employees in the logistics center come from around 70 countries, many of them from Poland, Romania, Afghanistan or Syria. According to a Zalando spokesman, in addition to the Erfurt site manager, a board member of the DAX group will also be present at the works meeting. The Thuringian Economics Minister Colette Boos John (CDU) and Labor Minister Katharina Schenk (SPD) were also invited as guests by the works council, as was Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow.
Employees’ fixed-term contracts expire
The works council accuses management of not adhering to labor law rules when deciding to completely close the site in September. The employee representatives were not heard. “It was not discussed with us whether there were alternative scenarios such as a partial closure or short-time work,” said a district councilor to the German Press Agency. It is therefore far from being a social plan.
Those whose fixed-term employment contracts expire in the coming weeks and months are already being looked after and advised by employees of the Thuringia Mitte employment agency. The works council speaks of around 500 fixed-term employment contracts. Up to four teams are working directly in the company, agency boss Irena Michel told dpa. Some Zalando service providers also have employees with fixed-term contracts that will not be extended due to the closure of the logistics location. “We do everything we can to ensure that people get follow-up employment.”
Up to 100 companies interested in hiring
For employees with permanent positions, advice is available if necessary, but for them it is primarily about company regulations. Michel confirmed Zalando’s plans to host a job fair in Erfurt. The employment agency and the regional economic development agency are providing advice.
According to Michel, there are potentially almost 100 companies in the region that have open positions and have signaled that they want to hire workers. The spectrum is broad – from logistics to care, hospitality, trade and crafts. “We are in the hot planning phase.” An exact date for the job exchange or fair has not yet been set, but it is expected to be at the end of February.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is seeking contact with the foreign owner of the huge logistics hall that Zalando rented after setting up shop more than a decade ago. According to Boos-John, this is also about future use and thus new jobs. In addition to the 2,700 Zalando employees, it is estimated that around 300 to 500 jobs at service providers at the logistics center are at risk.
