North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Government Calls for Job Guarantees from Thyssenkrupp Management Amidst Plans to Split the Company
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Economics, Mona Neubaur, has expressed concerns over the planned restructuring of Thyssenkrupp, a long-standing Essen-based conglomerate. In an interview with the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Neubaur emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the company’s employees, stating, “We stand firmly on the side of the workers.” The minister acknowledged the concerns of the IG Metall trade union and the workforce, which fear the potential loss of thousands of jobs due to the planned company split.
According to Jürgen Kerner, the IG Metall’s second chairman and vice-chair of Thyssenkrupp’s supervisory board, the proposed restructuring could result in the loss of over 20,000 jobs. Neubaur, however, views the reorganization as a “great challenge, but also a genuine opportunity to establish the company sustainably and in a future-oriented manner.” She emphasized the need for Thyssenkrupp’s management to provide a clear commitment to the company’s locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, secure and good working conditions and active employee involvement.