The Slovenj Gradec-based Prevent suffered a 46% drop in orders in the first six months of 2009, according to Zvikart, who added that the company was expecting to see a 30% year-on-year decrease in orders in the second half of the year.
The first round of layoffs will encompass mostly women from four Prevent's factories. Prevent currently employs some 1,300 workers in its care seat cover factories. Since January 2009, 50 workers left the company as a result of retirement, voluntary redundancy and run-out fixed term contracts.
Zvikart also confirmed that an additional 50 workers would get pink slips. However, no further layoffs are planned for 2009. "I hope that additional layoffs will not be necessary," Zvikart said.
