Tomas: We'll Set Up Detached Labour Office Workplace at Samsung Galanta

Galanta, 2 March (TASR) - A detached workplace of the labour office will be created on Samsung's premises in Galanta (Trnava region), Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) told a news conference on Monday. The labour office staff, in cooperation with recruitment agencies, will offer available job vacancies to employees of the TV set manufacturing plant, which is due to be closed down. Tomas pointed to the low unemployment rate in the affected districts. Of the 19,000 job vacancies in Trnava region, 11,000 are suitable for Samsung employees. "We have jobs for Slovak citizens. Carmakers have told us that they'll give jobs to Slovak nationals even at the expense of foreign workers," he said. The minister criticised opposition statements concerning the announced closure of the Galanta plant, stressing that, according to the South-Korean company itself, the decision isn't related to the business environment in Slovakia or government measures. Preliminary data indicates that the unemployment rate in Slovakia fell in February, added Tomas. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD), also attending the news conference, spoke about a sudden decision by the South-Korean company. She confirmed that the shutdown of the plant will directly affect 750 employees. "At the same time, Samsung has announced that it will retain 750 jobs at its distribution centre," she added. According to Sakova, the Economy Ministry has contacted companies such as the Trnava-based Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover in Nitra and Gotion near Surany (Nitra region) to ask whether they would be interested in workers from the Galanta plant. "We've received absolutely positive feedback and, even before the official announcement of the factory's closure to employees, their HR managers were already in contact with Samsung," she said. Stellantis has stated that it will need 800 new employees by the end of the year, Jaguar Land Rover 380, and Gotion some 1,200 workers, which it is currently recruiting, said Sakova. "At the same time, we've told the Labour Ministry and the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre that we want to use the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support employees and their requalification," she added. Samsung Electronics Slovakia officially confirmed on Friday (27 February) that it's decided to close its plant manufacturing TV sets in Galanta. Production will be phased out in several stages by May 2026. According to Samsung, this decision reflects broader structural changes in the global TV manufacturing market, as well as the company's current global production strategy. It also cited high energy prices as one of the reasons. The logistics centre in the village of Gan near Galanta will continue to operate. ko/df