Nestlé Faces Backlash Over Job Cuts in Germany

The global food giant Nestlé is facing significant protests following its decision to close two production facilities in Germany. The company's move, driven by cost-cutting measures, threatens approximately 230 jobs at its sites in Neuss, near Düsseldorf, and Conow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Workers gathered outside Nestlé's headquarters in Frankfurt to voice their opposition to ongoing job reductions. The labor union NGG has decried this latest development as part of a troubling trend by the world's largest food manufacturer to maximize profits at the expense of its workforce.

According to the chairman of the works council for Nestlé Germany, there has been a continuous decline in job numbers, with the company shedding positions for years. The number of employees in Germany has plummeted from 12,400 in 2014 to around 6,500 today. The union claims this trend is exacerbated by the relocation of production to Eastern European countries where labor costs are significantly lower.

Nestlé has announced that the facility in Neuss is scheduled to close by mid-2026, while the Conow plant is set to be sold off. Despite these closures, a spokesperson for Nestlé emphasized that the company remains committed to maintaining production operations within Germany, although the decisions regarding the two plants were not made lightly.

In the previous year, Nestlé reported a global revenue decline of 1.8 percent, totaling 91.4 billion Swiss francs. The company's profit also saw a decrease of 2.9 percent, landing at 10.9 billion francs. These financial pressures have prompted the company to reevaluate its operational strategy, leading to the current job cuts.

As the protests continue, it remains to be seen how Nestlé will respond to the concerns raised by its workforce and the broader implications of its restructuring efforts in Germany.