CRU: Tata Steel To Cut Jobs in the Netherlands

“Despite all efforts by Tata Steel to improve its market position and reduce costs, more is needed and the company needs to bring down personnel costs further,” the company stated.

Tata Steel also said it would require fewer staff in the longer term as it becomes a more environmentally friendly company. Plans include closing a coking plant by 2030.

Around 500 management and support staff will be let go by the India-based group, with the equivalent of 300 positions being shed by cutting outsourced labour and not replacing non-production staff. The company, which will discuss its plans with unions, says forced redundancies cannot be ruled out.

Local media quoted works council chair Cinto Gross as saying: “It is clearly no surprise that things are not going well in the steel trade. But we are not happy with this announcement.”

Around 9,200 workers are employed at IJmuiden, about 15 miles west of Amsterdam.

The works is reported to be responsible for around 7% of the Netherlands’ total CO₂ emissions, making it the country’s biggest single polluter. Tata Steel is working with the Dutch government on plans to switch to greener steel making but has yet to reach an agreement on the support it says it needs.

Ijmuiden has been the focus of demonstrations by environmental activists who have called for it to be closed, while public health agency RIVM has said life expectancy of people living nearby is reduced by 2½ months on average because of air pollution.

This article was first published by CRU. Learn more about CRU’s services at www.crugroup.com.