Mayor of Jonava: The suspension of part of the production will affect about 400 Achema employees

According to him, the municipality learned of the situation in Achema only through media reports: neither the company, which is one of the largest employers in the district, nor representatives of the Achema Group company, which has managed it, have reported to the municipality. about those plans so far.

“The situation is unpleasant (…), I know that it will affect two workshops and two departments, it would be about 400 employees of the approximately 1,300 people who work in the company. Some of them are likely to take leave, others will be sent by the employer to a period of inactivity under the Labor Code, during which he is expected to pay 40 percent. part of the average salary, part of it will probably work day shifts, because work in the company is organized in shifts, ”M. Sinkevičius told BNS.

“In any case, the income of these 400 people will definitely suffer, which will also have a negative impact on the income of the municipal budget due to personal income tax,” he added.

According to M. Sinkevičius, the most important question now is how long this situation will continue.

“When you talk to those who work for companies, they say that if this situation lasts for a couple of months, it would not be so bad, but if things take half a year or more, then there really would be nothing. well. That uncertainty is there, and at least until now no one can normally say when everything will end and it will be possible to return to normal working mode, ”explained the mayor of Jonava.

“We will see what the company will communicate, how the shareholders plan to handle the situation, because if everything drags on, people will naturally start looking for alternatives.” There is a need for employees in the labor market, but on the other hand, the chemical industry is such a specific niche and it may not be so easy for those who work here to find a place in alternative factories, ”said M. Sinkevičius.

He stressed that the situation did not depend on Achema itself, but that there was a lack of communication from the plant and its shareholders.

“We only found out about the current situation through the media. We have not yet planned any meeting with the representatives or shareholders of the company, but we would like not only the municipality, but also the company itself to show more attention in these cases. We do not know your indoor kitchen, we do not follow the fertilizer or gas markets, so it would be good for the company or its parent company (Grupo Achema – BNS) to show their willingness to announce their plans and how they may affect the labor market or tax situation . collection in the district “, – stated M. Sinkevičius.

The country’s largest gas consumer, Achema, confirmed to BNS last week that one of the two ammonia workshops, which produce around 30 percent of the world’s energy supply, is out of service due to the drastic rise in gas prices. in the markets after summer repairs. all factory outlet.

On Monday, Bint.

Achema employs about 1.27 thousand people. people.

Due to record gasoline prices, about 40 percent. Yara International, one of the world’s largest fertilizer producers, temporarily cut ammonia production, and CF Industries Holdings suspended two plants in the UK.

Gas prices in Europe have soared more than three times this year.