Car plants to let 10,000 workers go says industry chief

Car makers in the Czech Republic will lay off around 10,000 people at the end of this year and the start of 2009, the director of the country’s automobile industry association said on Thursday. Speaking at a conference in Brno, Antonín Šípek also said the international financial crisis meant around 20,000 fewer cars would roll off production lines in the Czech Republic. Companies supplying car makers are also expected to be hit by the economic downturn. Around 120,000 Czechs are employed in the automobile industry, which has been one of the main motors of the country’s economy in recent years.

The newest car plant in the country, a Hyundai factory in Nošovice, north Moravia, is to go into operation on November 3. A company spokesperson said Hyundai expected to receive a permit it needs to produce automobiles by Monday.

Author: Ian Willoughby