ZSSK to Optimise Number of Employees via Mass Lay-offs

Bratislava, 30 January (TASR) - National rail passenger carrier ZSSK is set to optimise its workforce in 2026 via mass lay-offs in accordance with the Labour Code and a collective agreement, ZSSK spokesperson Jan Bacek stated on Friday. Bacek added that this procedure is based on changes in the organisation of work and the management of the company, in particular in the structure of ticket sales, the development of digital sales channels and the need to align the number and structure of jobs with the actual volume of work and available financial resources. ZSSK has already adopted a number of cost-cutting measures, but in some areas there has been a constant decline in the need for labour. "ZSSK's goal is to maintain financial stability and to keep the company's operations sustainable long term in an environment of public finance consolidation and the gradual liberalisation of passenger rail transport, where efficiency, cost discipline and service quality will be decisive," said the spokesperson. The carrier will carry out the mass lay-offs during 2026, probably starting in April. This will mainly affect selected posts in ticket sales and related activities, as well as some administrative and support posts. It won't apply to key operational professions that provide daily passenger rail transport. "The planned number of posts to be eliminated as part of the mass lay-offs will represent a small percentage of the total number of ZSSK employees. This is a time-limited and controlled process resulting from the harmonisation of the volume of work, the need for certain activities and operations, and plans for how the company will function in 2026," stated Bacek. am/df