Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) is counting on the expected closure of more than 50 department stores of the Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof group to find as many employees as possible new employment. There is the possibility of setting up a transfer company to support people in a professional reorientation, said Heil on Monday evening in the ARD program "Hart aber fair". "I would have liked to be able to avoid compulsory redundancies. If that's not the case, that's the right instrument."
Heil said of the closure plans: "This is damn bitter news, even for many inner cities." Sometimes employees have to pay for wrong business decisions from the past. "But I also say from this point to the employees: With the possibilities we have, if such an agreement is reached for a transfer company, we will help with the Federal Employment Agency to ensure that people also find contact wherever possible."
Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof wants to close 52 of the remaining 129 department stores, according to the General Works Council on Monday. Accordingly, in the course of the insolvency proceedings, "well over 5000,<> employees will lose their jobs".
It would not only eliminate jobs in the closure branches. Space reductions and staff reductions in the remaining buildings and in the central functions are also planned. The company itself spoke of more than 4000 Affected. They should receive the offer to change to a transfer company in order to further qualify for a new job.