Trials, a major Latvian meatpacker, said it would lay off 90 employees, or nearly a third of its staff, as part of a restructuring plan to boost productivity. "There has been lengthy increase of expenses of various resources….The global situation influences not only purchasing capacity in Latvia, but also in the Baltics," said Chairman Valts Blaumanis, adding that the restructuring should be completed by August. He added that the company would have to search for "other opportunities…to ensure successful development of the company." Trials employs 300 workers.
Electronics manufacturer Elcoteq said it would send several hundred workers at its Tallinn plants on paid leave in a drive to increase efficiency. The precise figures will be known after the lists have been agreed with the Labor Inspectorate, the company said. The changes, part of a February 2007 plan to boost the company's competitiveness, will affect about 330 workers. The company said its range of services or capacity would not be affected. Elcoteq Tallinn, a subsidiary of Elcoteq SE, employs more than 2,000 workers.
The Estonian State Forest Management Company, which manages 40 percent of the country's forests, said it would lay off 140 of its employees as part of its reorganization plans. The company said it completed negotiations with all 509 administrative workers and that 316 accepted offers to continue working at RMK, 140 declined the job offered to them and three found jobs elsewhere. Fifty will retire. RMK, which currently employs 1,081, will switch to a new structure from July 1. The reorganization effort will allow the company to cut administration costs by some 50 million kroons (3.2 million euros) annually.
