The number of suspended contracts in the processing industry went down 145,567 on April 30, compared with the previous day, a sign that the automotive industry is reopening its plants.
“It is about the restart of the automotive industry. It’s a domino effect, the large companies start, they all start. The automotive industry has restarted but I haven’t seen any moves from the rest,” Florin Godean, country manager Adecco Romania & Hungary, told ZF.
The automotive industry expects more than 120,000 people to return to work in plants on May 4, once Dacia and Ford resume production. The restart of car production at Automobile Dacia and Ford Romania will also lead to a thaw-up of the component manufacturer industry, as they will resume production too.
Some 20% to 25% of the employees of the automotive industry were working last week, said Adrian Sandu, general secretary of Romania’s carmakers association ACAROM. The number will increase today, once Dacia and Ford resume operations, as do their suppliers. About 40% to 45% will be back at work on May 4, Sandu estimated.
“45% of the employees in the automotive industry may return to work. Companies must make sure those coming back to work keep their distance, it is only natural that they do. Once the major companies in the European auto industry resume operations, they all do,” Florin Godean said.
Considering the automotive industry in Romania has some 240,000 employees, last week there were about 60,000 at work and on Monday at least 120,000 are expected to be at work.
Continental, Michelin, Bosch have already resumed production and the restart continues, since all companies have announced implementation of additional measures.
Another industry where the number of suspended contracts saw a significant drop from one day to another is the wholesale and retail trade, vehicle, and motorcycle repair. The number of such contracts was almost 45,000 lower than in the previous day.
Employees are also returning to work in the hospitality industry judging by the number of suspended contracts, which went down by more than 14,200 on April 30.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)