Sweden’s employment ministry says it will push hard for Saab employees to be paid before Christmas following the automaker’s bankruptcy filing today.
Saab’s staff of almost 4,000 are still owed November wages but the Swedish government looks likely to step in – to help both employees – and its reputation – just a week before Christmas.
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“It is horrific that it happens [bankruptcy] so close to Christmas, so the government is doing whatever the government can do to make sure they [Saab staff] will get their money in time,” a spokesman for Minister for Employment Hilary Engstrom told just-auto from Sweden.
“We will push forward to try to ensure they get what they need – it is up to the administrator to make sure they get the money in time.”
The spokeswoman added that both the Employment Minister and Enterprise Minister Annie Loof, would travel to Saab’s home town of Trollhattan in Western Sweden in the next couple of days to assess the situation and to see what job opportunities could be available to the thousands of staff now facing redundancy.
The government spokeswoman also declined to comment on General Motors’ role in Saab’s position – earlier today European automotive supplier body CLEPA CEO Lars Holmqvist told just-auto: “They [GM] have killed it and they managed to do that very effectively.”
Saab’s potential demise now presents something of a headache for the Swedish government, although it insisted it would focus its efforts on securing new employment for the employees, citing Volvo in nearby Gothenburg as a possibility.
“That is what they [Ministers] are going to try and focus on, that Saab workers’ skills will not be wasted,” said the spokeswoman.
“We will do everything we can to make sure they get back to work. There [are] also other industries such as Volvo.”
