Ruag plans to cut up to 49 jobs in Switzerland

Swiss state-owned defence group Ruag has announced a reorganisation that could lead to the loss of up to 49 jobs, SRF reported. The positions affected are at sites in Bern, Thun and Emmen in the canton of Lucerne.

Part of the reorganisation concerns Ruag’s Business Area Ground in Thun, where workloads are insufficient because customer orders have not materialised. Up to 24 jobs could be cut in that area.

Further changes are planned in IT. Various tasks are to be outsourced to the Federal Office for Information Technology and Telecommunications. Ruag said the move would improve efficiency and reduce existing duplication.

The outsourcing could result in the loss of up to eight jobs in Thun, eight in Bern and nine in Emmen.

The cuts have not yet been finalised. Ruag said it would first complete its consultation with employees, which is expected to conclude on October 6, according to company spokesman Silvan Gruber, who spoke to Keystone-SDA.

Employees affected by the cuts will have access to a social plan that includes extended notice periods and professional advice on changing careers. Ruag will cover the cost of the career advice, Gruber said.