Unilever is cutting 240 jobs in the Netherlands and is going to move the job positions to low-cost locations, including Katowice.
Unilever has already been present in Katowice since 1992, when the company purchased shares of Śląskie Zakłady Tłuszczowe „Olmex”. In 2001, the branch was integrated to Unilever Poland. At present, the FMCG firm has production plants of margarine and tea at 2 Kołodziejska St. and business operating center in Nowe Katowickie Centrum Biznesu at 6 Chorzowska St. Office teams are involved in logistics, supply chain, IT, customer service and finance processes, among others. Unilever hires approximately one thousand people in Katowice.
Now the company will increase the number of workers as the 240 job positions in the Netherlands (200 staff members and 40 agency workers) will be shifted abroad. According to the nu.nl web site, the jobs – particularly IT, finance and accounts – are being moved to Katowice, Mexico, Bangalore and Manila. This way Unilever wants to further centralize the company’s activities.
Unilever has a worldwide workforce of 172 000 people. The company’s turnover was EUR 53,3 billion in 2015. Unilever has more than 400 brands, including Rama, Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, 13 of which generate sales in excess of EUR 1 billion a year.