Henadz Fiadynich: Layoffs possible at MAZ in first quarter

The personnel department of the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) gives wrong information about vacancies and the real situation at the plant.

The plant's administration doesn't know what the plant will meet after Christmas, says Henadz Fianynich, the chair of the Electronic Industry Trade Union, praca-by.info writes.

“There are no economic grounds to recruit new people for the core production. A part of workers, who were sent on unpaid leave, may quit after January 7, if there are no positive changes,” Henadz Fiadynich said. “Another variant is possible: Workers can be offered jobs in other units of the plant. But there will be no vacancies for all.”

The trade union leader predicts that the first quarter of the year will be very difficult for MAZ and doesn't rule out the possibility of layoffs. On the other hand, Fiadynich says he doesn't understand the turmoil over the vacancies.

“It would be interesting to ask the employment centre how many people were sent to MAZ recently,” he says. “Many plants have an unwritten rule to employ people with recommendations from friends. If someone comes from the street, ideologists cannot check how he or she is reliable.”