Tomas: Lowa Offers Its Handlova Employees Severance Pay and Jobs

Handlova/Martin, April 17 (TASR) - Lowa Production has offered employees from its Handlova branch (Trencin region), where it is ceasing production, severance pay and jobs at other plants, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) stated at a press briefing in Martin (Zilina region) on Thursday. Tomas also stressed that the company is not ending its activities in Slovakia. "It is a huge company that employs 1,590 people. It's closing down only one of its operations, which employs, I think, 150 people, to whom it immediately offered severance pay and work for its parent company and at its other branch," said the minister, pointing out that the parent company is located in Bosany in Trencin region and has some other branches in Slovakia. The company is scheduled to end production in Handlova on August 31 of this year. It told TASR in a statement that it's "reviewing its industrial structure in order to increase production efficiency and strengthen synergies between the various companies within the group". The decision is part of a broader strategic plan to optimise production between the various plants, aligning technology and know-how to best respond to the demands of the global market. The company hasn't specified how many employees will be affected by the decision, but it stated that it's "actively working in close cooperation with its partners to provide the best possible support for the staff affected, including opportunities for redeployment and a responsible transition process carried out with respect for the employees". Lowa, part of the Tecnica Group, specialises in active footwear, while the group also produces ski equipment, roller-blades and snow shoes. In addition to Handlova, it operates plants across Slovakia and exports its products to over 80 countries worldwide. am/df