Metso has begun statutory employer-employee negotiations to reduce the number of personnel in several of its units serving the paper industry. The reductions are expected to affect a maximum of around 630 employees, with about 150 positions likely to be outsourced.
“It’s very unfortunate that we are forced to resort to such drastic measures affecting our employees,” says Pasi Laine, president of Metso’s Pulp, Paper and Power business. “However, they are essential to maintain our competitiveness and leading position in a rapidly changing business environment.”
The personnel reductions are necessary because of the need to adjust the manufacturing capacity of Metso’s paper business unit to the permanent structural changes that have impacted the business and weakened its competitiveness and profitability.
“The gains made by new communications technologies have weakened growth in the consumption of printing and writing paper,” says Laine. “As a result, the market for new printing paper machines has slowed, while the demand for more economical medium-sized board machines has continued. This global change in demand means that we must adjust our capacity not only in Finland, but also abroad, including China.
“We have to be able to produce cheaper, quicker, and more flexible solutions to survive in this market. The aim of the personnel reductions is to bring production capabilities in line with current and expected demand, and secure Metso’s global competitiveness over the longer term.”
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