Symrise is therefore extending its employment guarantee for its German sites from the previous date of 2016 to the end of 2020. In return, the staff will do without some salary increases in the future. In addition, the 40-hour week has been fixed until 2020. The agreement also provides for some major additional investment in the German sites. Furthermore, the group is reacting to demographic change by creating additional apprenticeships as well as staff enhancement and training measures.
The collective agreement signed on January 11, constitutes the continuation and extension of the existing site guarantee agreement. The first agreement signed in 2009 and the previous guarantee of job security at the German plants up to 2016 will now be extended up to 2020.
In view of this, Symrise intends to make further investments in the expansion and modernisation of the German sites. Symrise will invest an additional € 100m in Germany up to 2020, on top of the agreed investment volume of €120m up to 2016. The group is anticipating accumulated cost benefits of more than €80m over the course of the agreement.
Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG, said: “This extended agreement represents a long-term commitment to our German sites and sends out a strong signal to our employees. It includes far-reaching measures designed to strengthen our international competitive position. A sturdy foundation for our company and our employees is crucial to the lasting continuation of our profitable course of growth.”
The new collective agreement also comprises staff training programs and measures designed to facilitate the company’s internal generational change. Symrise is committing itself to offering around 50 vocational training positions at its German sites to young people every year.
Head of human resources, Dr Iñigo Natzel, said: “Demographic change will be one of the prime challenges faced by German businesses in the years to come. Symrise is a market leader in a dynamic and global industry and is therefore highly attractive to the next generation of junior staff. We are highlighting this by expanding our training programmes, with which we intend to secure access to bright up-and-coming employees for many years to come.”
Source: Symrise
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