Large companies in crisis: 1,000 employees on short-time work

The German agricultural machinery manufacturer Claas sends employees on short-time work again. Those affected are around 1,000 employees in the production of combine harvesters, forage harvesters and large tractors at the main plant in Harsewinkel. The company confirmed this when asked. The measure is limited until January 17th.

Claas justified the move with the “difficult economic situation that is putting a strain on the agricultural sector”. Temporary short-time work in selected areas helps to secure jobs in the long term and bridge the temporary decline in orders, it said. No short-time work is planned at other locations, said a spokesman. Several media outlets had previously reported on it.

The company had already sent around 600 employees in Harsewinkel on short-time work for three weeks in September. At that time only combine harvester production was affected.

Slump in profits and sales

Claas says it is struggling with a difficult industry environment. In the 2023/2024 financial year that ended at the end of September, sales fell by 19 percent to 5 billion euros. Profits have also collapsed. The surplus was recently at 253 million euros. In the previous twelve months it was 347 million euros.

The company, founded in 1913, claims to be the world market leader in self-propelled forage harvesters and the European market leader in combine harvesters. Claas employs around 12,000 people worldwide, 3,500 of them in Harsewinkel.