Tobacco industry "Niš" to lay off one third of workers

Tobacco industry "Niš" (DIN), which operates within company "Philip Morris international", announced that it would dismiss one third of its workers by the end of the summer in order to preserve competitiveness and sustainability of operations in the cigarette factory.

DIN announced that thorough analyses had showed that efficient and sustainable operations required not more than 580 employees, while the factory had nearly 910 workers at the moment.

- The plan is that between 280 and 330 workers leave the factory in Niš, but the exact number of employees that will be left without jobs will be known in September, once the reorganization in DIN is finished - it is specified in the announcement.

The dismissed workers will be paid net severance pay in amount of 1.5m RSD, which means that about 550m RSD will be paid in total.

Reforms in DIN's operations, which should be finished by the end of the summer, anticipates reduction of number of workers and focusing on primary field of work - production of cigarettes.

In the future, Nis-based factory will be entrusting certain business activities to specialized companies - security, catering, maintenance, preparation and packing of goods

In order to additionally help employees that will leave the company, the Management of DIN has made the agreement with the companies that will be entrusted with certain business activities to offer jobs to former workers of DIN.

- It is estimated that over 80 former employees may get the opportunity for new job very soon - it is stated in the announcement.