The Left party is calling on the Volkswagen board to forgo its bonus payments.
Ines Schwerdtner, the party’s chairwoman, told the “Welt” on Wednesday that the bonuses should be repaid and instead distributed to the company’s workers. “It would be a sign of appreciation for all those who keep the factories and offices running” she said.
Schwerdtner blasted the situation as “scandalous” that hard‑working employees continue to worry about their jobs while senior managers fill their own pockets. She argued that the large payouts are possible because the company has been reporting higher net cash flow thanks to cuts in investment. “Those who pocket millions with such financial tricks do not deserve it” she added.
The party leader sees the root of Volkswagen’s economic problems in its top management. “The company is deeply in crisis, and the managers in the executive boards are to blame” she said. “For years, large dividends were paid out instead of reinvesting in research and development. Now profits are falling, yet the bosses are setting a brutal cost‑cutting course”.
Volkswagen’s own reports on Tuesday confirmed a significant drop in profit for the past year. The company plans to cut costs and reduce its workforce by 50,000 positions by 2030. According to “Handelsblatt”, the board has paid approximately €13.6 million in yearly bonuses in total.