Plant closure and layoffs in Germany are inevitable for the German automotive giant Volkswagen, said its brand chief Thomas Schaefer on Saturday.
In a newspaper interview, Schaefer said that the German carmaker cannot rely solely on band-aid measures to overcome its current challenges, adding that the company's labor costs are nearly double those of its European peers and must be reduced by 4 billion euros (4.17 billion U.S. dollars) over the next three to four years.
This September, Volkswagen announced that it was considering closing some of its plants in Germany and terminating the employment protection agreement in place since 1994 as part of cost-cutting measures.
On October 28, head of the group's works council Daniela Cavallo said Volkswagen planned to close at least three plants in Germany and cut tens of thousands of jobs to reduce its costs.
In response to Volkswagen management's plans for pay cuts, layoffs, and plant closures, IG Metall, one of Germany's most influential unions, held a press conference on Wednesday, proposing measures to reduce the company's production costs, including accepting reduced working hours to preserve more jobs.
However, if the proposal is not accepted by the Volkswagen management, the union has warned of launching a massive strike unprecedented in this country starting December 1.
Volkswagen operates 10 plants for its main brand in Germany, employing around 120,000 people.
Plant closure, layoffs in Germany inevitable for Volkswagen: brand chief
Plant closure, layoffs in Germany inevitable for Volkswagen: brand chief
A Chinese fantasy epic made waves with attendees at the 2024 Poland Chinese Film Festival, which commenced Friday in the Polish capital of Warsaw to promote cross-cultural understanding through cinema.
The three-day festival is being held at the Kinoteka multiplex, located in the iconic Palace of Culture and Science in the center of Warsaw, where over 300 Polish guests attending the opening ceremony.
Featuring five acclaimed Chinese films, the event has attracted audiences eager to explore the richness of Chinese cinema and culture.
Chinese Ambassador to Poland Sun Linjiang addressed the audience, emphasizing cinema as a vital bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. He highlighted that the strong cinematic collaboration between China and Poland over the past 75 years has significantly contributed to enhancing cultural ties, strengthening traditional friendships, and fostering mutual learning.
The festival is part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Poland, aiming at promoting cultural exchange and strengthening ties between the two peoples.
After the opening session, attendees watched the film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms", a Chinese epic mythological blockbuster released in 2023.
Szymon Mioduszewski from Polish film distribution company 9th Plan said he was deeply moved by the movie, highlighting that Chinese commercial films are gaining recognition in international markets.
"This film is one of the biggest epic fantasy movies I've seen. It's based on Chinese mythology, but the movie is so universal, full of action, of adventure that it's easy to be adapted in every market, and the quality of the movie itself is amazing," said Mioduszewski.
2024 Poland Chinese Film Festival excites audiences in Warsaw
