Published on July 19th, 2015 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez
0Porsche revises employee agreements to reduce redundancies
The Executive Board and the General Works Council of the Porsche AG have adopted a pioneering package of measures for the long-term safeguarding of the company locations. Porsche is to invest more than a billion euros in the expansion of its factories. The objective of the new agreement with the title “Fit for the Future” is also to boost the productivity, flexibility and efficiency of the company while maintaining the social standards for the employees. In the agreement, representatives of both employers and employees have ruled out redundancies until 2020.
Thus, substantial investments are being made. For instance, a new engine plant as well as a new body shop are coming into being in Zuffenhausen. In addition, the assembly line is being expanded. This is where not only the 911 and the Boxster will roll off the assembly line in the future. As of August 2016, the current and future generations of the Cayman models will also be built in Zuffenhausen. In total, more than 1.1 billion euros will be invested in the Zuffenhausen, Ludwigsburg and Weissach locations. Simultaneously, the high level of social standards at Porsche will continue to be secure.
Therefore, the sports car maker will make sustainable use of the “Porsche Improvement Process” and the “Porsche Process Optimisation” in order to prepare for future challenges. The further development of the working time models makes an important contribution to meet the modified flexibility needs of employees and supervisors alike. As part of a new part-time work scheme for retirees – taking the demographic changes and concomitant shortage of skilled labour into account – it will facilitate an earlier date for retirement for especially burdened employees.
Apprenticeship training traditionally enjoys a high priority at Porsche. A cutting-edge training centre will open in the fall of this year in Zuffenhausen. Porsche is training 150 young people a year here. These high figures for apprenticeships have been confirmed once more. Therefore, the new agreement proposes that all apprentices who pass their final examination up to and including July 31, 2020, will get a permanent employment contract.
The agreement will enter into force on August 1, 2015. The Executive Board and General Works Council are in agreement that the previous agreements for securing the economic future of the locations contributed on a long-term basis to the business success of Porsche. Now, with the new agreement concluded, the Executive Board and the General Works Council will continue this success model.