No layoffs due to operational reasons at Kuka - No layoffs due to operational reasons at Kuka
KUKA, the industrial robot manufacturer owned by Midea Group, has reached an agreement with its works council to avoid forced redundancies at its Augsburg headquarters. The deal comes after months of negotiations and will protect jobs for nearly 3,000 employees at the site.
The company had initially planned to cut 400 jobs but later raised the figure to 560 due to ongoing struggles in the robotics sector.
KUKA missed out on over €100 million in new orders during 2025 as the industrial robotics market faced persistent challenges. To secure jobs, the company and its works council agreed to suspend scheduled pay raises and certain bonus payments. The concessions aim to free up funds for essential investments while keeping the Augsburg site operational.
Carola Leitmeir, who led negotiations for the works council, confirmed that the agreement prevents compulsory layoffs until July 2029. She described the deal as a way to limit job cuts and ensure the long-term future of the Augsburg location.
Under the terms, KUKA will not carry out redundancies for operational reasons for the next four years. The company had originally proposed cutting 400 positions but later revised this to 560 before reaching the final agreement.
The deal protects jobs at KUKA’s Augsburg headquarters until mid-2029. Employees will face postponed wage increases and reduced bonuses, but the company avoids forced layoffs. The agreement also allows KUKA to redirect savings into critical investments for its robotics business.
