Major companies announcing layoffs in 2009

Construction companies Hidroconstructia, Cominco and Vega '93, and the Rolem wood product maker rank top in a list of companies announcing massive layoffs in the first quarter of 2009, according to data released by county employment offices and centralized by Business Standard.

Other companies planning to reduce the number of employees are Alro Slatina aluminum producer, which is considering laying off 50 percent of its staff and lowering production by 50 percent.

As several major players in the local industry announced a temporary production halt or decided to lower production, the business of their suppliers or processors is also affected. For an instance, Alro's restrained operations will have an effect on 20,000 employees in the aluminum sector.

In the auto segment, car parts producers that are supplying Romania's largest car manufacturer, Dacia, and other carmakers on the European market, have already made plans for layoffs in the first three months of 2009.

Car parts producer Subansamble Auto is to lay off some 150 employees, or 50 percent of the total staff, by March. Automotive Complete, another supplier for the auto industry, has a layoff plan of 200 of its 650 employees.

Meanwhile, Hidroconstructia is to give up one third of its personnel, or 3,300 people, although company representatives indicated there is no reason to worry, as winter layoffs are standard procedure in the construction sector. The Romanian Association of Construction Contractors (ARACO) warned that as many as 70,000 construction workers could lose their jobs early next year.

Business Standard