The problems had been announced and countermeasures had already been taken regarding internal short-time working – but that was not enough! Fronius announced on Tuesday that it would have to lay off 350 employees in its solar division in Sattledt (Upper Austria).
Before the staff reductions were reported to the employment agency, technology group Fronius informed the workforce: 350 employees working in the “Solar Energy” division in Sattledt (Upper Austria) will have to leave.
At the end of last year, the family business, which operates from Pettenbach, had already reduced shifts and separated itself from leasing employees. This year, internal short-time working was introduced for 1,300 employees in solar energy production – Fronius specializes in the production of inverters.
Warehouses are full
But instead of easing tensions, the situation deteriorated further. The warehouses of wholesalers and installers are full and their stocks are being reduced much more slowly than expected.
The predictions did not hold up, lower energy costs and uncertainties about subsidies have led to the construction of photovoltaic systems in Austria being 30 to 40 percent lower than in 2023.
In Germany, the market for roof systems has even been halved, according to Managing Director Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß, who assumes that the dismissal of the 350 employees will sufficiently reduce personnel costs and that no further separations will take place.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
