FAS’s temporary production halt

Staff at Kragujevac-based Fiat automobili Srbija (FAS) (Fiat cars Serbia) havethree non-working days starting from Friday, September 5 until Tuesday,September 9 and during that period they will receive 65% of salary, the plant TradeUnion has announced today.

President of the Independent Trade Union at FAS, Zoran Markovic, said for theBeta agency that the plant announced three non-working days with an option thatthere might be more days until the end of September when they will not work.

Danas newspaper published that, according to unofficial information, thestaff will not be engaged September 8-9 and 15-16 and 22-30.

Although there are rumors that the plant could be closed, analysis however suppose that FAS which in the first seven months this year exported 10% more cars compared to the same period last year, temporary halted production lines and assembling lanes so that it would not make stock. FAS has already halted production for a few times, mainly due to problems in supplying with parts from some Italian suppliers.

Sometime later, FAS management announced that “causes of the production halt are of external nature and that they refer to the situation at the European and world automotive market conditioned by economical features and crisis.”

- FAS, as wanted employer, with the strong sense of social responsibility, is aware of keeping their staff’s jobs as well as its own importance for the economy of both Kragujevac and Serbia. Temporary company halt is directed towards that the company and its operations, as well as positions, human and material resources, are kept and put into function as soon as possible – it was stated at the announcement Beta agency published.