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Haba plans realignment and cuts hundreds of jobs

The traditional Upper Franconian company has had a turbulent few months. Now Haba wants to put insolvency behind it - and is cutting hundreds of jobs.

HABA wooden toys are on display in the HABA showroom. The struggling toy and furniture manufacturer....aussiedlerbote.de
HABA wooden toys are on display in the HABA showroom. The struggling toy and furniture manufacturer is cutting around 500 jobs. photo.aussiedlerbote.de

The company - Haba plans realignment and cuts hundreds of jobs

As part of a reorganization, the ailing toy and furniture manufacturer Haba is cutting around 500 jobs. The employees, the majority of whom work at the company headquarters in Bad Rodach near Coburg, are to be offered a transfer company. This was announced by Mario Wilhelm, Managing Director of Haba Familygroup, on Tuesday. The transfer company will run for six months. Around 1000 jobs will be retained at the company headquarters in Upper Franconia. According to Wilhelm, intensive talks had previously been held with the owner family and the works council.

Haba would like to complete the insolvency proceedings in self-administration, which began in September, by the end of February and then get back on its feet quickly, as the company's general representative Martin Mucha said. Haba hopes to receive numerous orders from local authorities again in the new year, which account for a large proportion of its turnover. Local authorities are required not to conclude contracts with insolvent companies.

As already announced, the long-established company would like to concentrate on high-quality toys and games to promote development. According to sales manager Stefanie Frieß, there is a lot of catching up to do when it comes to setting up daycare centers throughout Germany. This is where Haba wants to pick up. For Haba Pro, which has been the market leader in furniture for childcare facilities for years, this offers excellent prospects.

Site in Saxony-Anhalt to be sold

The production site for school furniture in Eisleben in Saxony-Anhalt, on the other hand, will be sold on January 1. With more than 70 employees, the new owner will take over more than three quarters of the workforce there, it was reported. The company had already announced in August that the Jako-O clothing division would be discontinued by January 2024.

The IG Metall trade union was generally satisfied with the solution. The transfer company had been achieved in negotiations against Haba's original wishes, said Nicole Ehrsam, IG Metall representative in Coburg. Haba's management now has the great responsibility of leading the company back onto a stable path and regaining trust. There were not problems with the products or the quality, but with the management of the company.

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Source: www.stern.de

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