Freixenet Reaches Preliminary Agreement on Layoffs Amid Production Decline
154 employees to be laid off in a deal aiming to mitigate impacts, following a significant drop in production due to climate effects.
Freixenet Group, which includes the brands Freixenet and Segura Viudas, has reached a preliminary agreement with its employee committees regarding a redundancy plan (ERE) that aims to minimize the impact on staff through non-traumatic measures.
This agreement, praised by the CC.OO union, will be presented to the workers for a vote today.
Freixenet is primarily owned by the German group Oetker, holding a 50.7% stake.
Initially, Freixenet had proposed layoffs affecting up to 180 employees due to a significant decline in production attributed to prolonged drought conditions impacting vineyards.
The finalized pre-agreement reduces the number of affected employees to a maximum of 154, comprising 99 from Freixenet and 55 from Segura Viudas.
The agreement outlines a preferential criterion for voluntary departures and early retirements.
Employees under the age of 55 who choose to leave voluntarily will receive compensation of 50 days of salary for each year worked, without a cap on the total amount.
For employees aged 55 and above with a minimum of 10 years of service who meet the early retirement criteria, a social support plan has been established.
Employees aged 55 to 58 will have their unemployment benefits supplemented to reach 75% of their gross salary from the date of contract termination until they turn 63. For employees aged 59 to 61, the supplement will amount to 80% of their gross salary under similar conditions.
The company will also arrange a special agreement with the Social Security system for this age group between 61 and 63 years, with annual revaluation of these amounts set at 2%.
Employees aged 61 and older who opt for early retirement will receive severance pay equivalent to 30 days per year, capped at a maximum of 24 monthly payments, or a total ceiling of 75,000 euros gross.
Should the voluntary measures fail to meet the required number of reductions, the company has established exit criteria which ensure severance similar to that of unfair dismissal, guaranteeing a minimum compensation of 10,000 euros.
Additionally, employees under 55 will have access to employment placement services and the right to preferential hiring for two years should any vacancies arise.
This agreement, praised by the CC.OO union, will be presented to the workers for a vote today.
Freixenet is primarily owned by the German group Oetker, holding a 50.7% stake.
Initially, Freixenet had proposed layoffs affecting up to 180 employees due to a significant decline in production attributed to prolonged drought conditions impacting vineyards.
The finalized pre-agreement reduces the number of affected employees to a maximum of 154, comprising 99 from Freixenet and 55 from Segura Viudas.
The agreement outlines a preferential criterion for voluntary departures and early retirements.
Employees under the age of 55 who choose to leave voluntarily will receive compensation of 50 days of salary for each year worked, without a cap on the total amount.
For employees aged 55 and above with a minimum of 10 years of service who meet the early retirement criteria, a social support plan has been established.
Employees aged 55 to 58 will have their unemployment benefits supplemented to reach 75% of their gross salary from the date of contract termination until they turn 63. For employees aged 59 to 61, the supplement will amount to 80% of their gross salary under similar conditions.
The company will also arrange a special agreement with the Social Security system for this age group between 61 and 63 years, with annual revaluation of these amounts set at 2%.
Employees aged 61 and older who opt for early retirement will receive severance pay equivalent to 30 days per year, capped at a maximum of 24 monthly payments, or a total ceiling of 75,000 euros gross.
Should the voluntary measures fail to meet the required number of reductions, the company has established exit criteria which ensure severance similar to that of unfair dismissal, guaranteeing a minimum compensation of 10,000 euros.
Additionally, employees under 55 will have access to employment placement services and the right to preferential hiring for two years should any vacancies arise.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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