[Auto] Volkswagen suspends production of its plants in Brazil due to the pandemic

[SougarLord]

 

The measure will begin on March 24 and will last for 12 days, until April 4, in the four plants that the company has in the South American giant.

 

According to a statement released this Friday, the company reached the decision due to the situation that the country is currently experiencing due to the pandemic, which this Friday registered a new record with more than 90,500 new cases in a single day.

 

The lack of places in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and of medicines for these units, as well as the already notorious shortage of oxygen in some states, have the South American giant in the largest health and hospital collapse in its history.

"The company adopts this measure in order to preserve the health of its employees and their families," the company said in the statement.

 

According to the Volkswagen, only the essential activities will be maintained in the four plants that it has in the country - three in the state of Sao Paulo (southeast) and one more in the state of Paraná (south) - while the employees of the administrative areas they will carry out their duties in remote work.

 

The German company's decision was made after reaching an agreement with the regional unions.

 

The Metalworkers Union, in Sao Paulo, for days has been pressuring other automotive companies in the region such as Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Scania, to stop the factories.

 

It is not the first time that Volkswagen has suspended activities due to the pandemic. Exactly one year ago, the German multinational announced the stoppage of its units in the country for three weeks.