Nestlé: European consultation on job cuts launched

On April 22, in Lausanne, an extraordinary Nestlé European Information and Consultation Committee (NECIC) meeting formally opened the European information and consultation process on Nestlé's cost-cutting plan, which targets 16,000 jobs worldwide. A consultation protocol has been agreed and will bring more clarity in the process after six months of uncertainty and anxiety. This is a significant achievement, finally bringing greater transparency to these announced job cuts and helping all parties navigate through a challenging period.

Through the consultation process already underway, the NECIC has learned that around 2,000 white-collar positions will be cut by the end of 2027. The NECIC delegates are committed to ensuring that most of these redundancies are voluntary, and that as few colleagues as possible face compulsory dismissal. Workers' representatives welcome this step, but anxiety among employees remains high. Key questions-on the full impact for blue-collar workers, the transfer of jobs to shared services centers and the resulting possible psychosocial stress of the increased workload, and whether savings will be reinvested in operations rather than returned to shareholders-are yet to be answered.

The NECIC delegates will engage constructively but remain determined to hold management to account. Their position is clear: People must come before profit.

The full statement of the NECIC is available online (in French).