Michelin Announces Voluntary Exit Plan for Up to 1,500 Jobs in France

Overview

• The group on May 28 announced a voluntary departure scheme that could remove up to 1,500 positions in France over three years and said no forced layoffs would be used.
• Michelin said about two-thirds of the potential cuts target tertiary office functions centered in Paris, Clermont-Ferrand and Lille, while roughly one-third would affect industrial roles.
• Unions including CFDT, CGT and SUD immediately condemned the plan, warning they will monitor for disguised pressure on workers and for rising workloads among staff who remain.
• Company leaders linked the measure to a tougher market after a 5.4% fall in first-quarter sales and a 1.4% drop in tyre volumes and pointed to high French costs for labor, energy and taxes.
• Details on which posts or sites will be affected must be set in upcoming social consultations, and the move follows a 2024 restructuring that cut 1,246 jobs and closed two plants.