The German company Wacker Neuson, which opened a factory in Kragujevac in June 2023 with a promise of new employment opportunities, is now bringing in three German managers to key positions, while also undergoing a minor reduction in the number of employees.
According to Serbian media reports, there have been changes in the leadership of the factory, which produces steel parts for construction machinery and currently employs around 600 people. Local managers will be replaced by three individuals from Germany, with one of them taking on the role of the general director.
In addition to changes in management, a reduction in the number of employees has been recorded. Around 60 workers have left the factory with severance packages, while contracts for others on fixed-term agreements were not renewed. The reasons for the layoffs have not been officially disclosed.
These developments come a year after the factory’s opening and a 25 million euro investment. At that time, the company emphasized that the new location would contribute to increased capacity and the creation of new jobs. The current changes are causing uncertainty among employees and the public, raising questions about whether the promises of expansion will be fulfilled.
It is important to monitor the further development of the situation and official statements from the company to gain a clearer understanding of the reasons behind these moves and their potential impact on the future of the factory in Kragujevac.