Freiburg-based Saint Paul Group cuts up to 30 jobs
The Fribourg-based Saint-Paul Group, which publishes the daily newspaper La Liberté among others, is planning to cut 25 to 30 jobs in its printing plants. The reason for this is the continuing difficult economic situation in the graphics industry.
In addition to digitalization, the company is struggling with weak demand and international competition. Large orders are increasingly moving abroad. The print shop's turnover fell by 20 percent between 2016 and 2017. Following deficits in previous years, the current year will also end in the red, it is reported. The company therefore intends to adapt its structure and reduce operating costs.
As part of the planned mass redundancies, the staff committee has ten days to submit proposals, as company boss Thierry Mauron told Liberté. The Saint-Paul print shop currently employs 93 people. This means that almost one in three jobs is affected by the redundancies. Mauron went on to say that the job cuts would be made through natural departures and early retirements wherever possible, but that redundancies could not be ruled out. A social plan is planned.
Newly grouped business unit
The Group also decided to merge the three printing plants - Saint-Paul in Fribourg, Glasson Print in Bulle (25 employees) and the Broye printing center in Estavayer-le Lac (7 employees) - into one corporate unit. This will also include the advertising department with 25 employees. The aim is to create synergies and improve production processes, but also to create new customer offerings. According to Mauron, a geographical merger of the three print shops is not planned in the short term. In the longer term, however, there are "no taboos". The Fribourg-based Saint-Paul Group currently employs a total of around 300 people. In addition to Liberté, it publishes the weekly newspapers La Broye Hebdo and Le Messager. The group operates several printing plants, book publishers and a bookshop. The Group's main shareholder is the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul. (SDA)
