Rumors had begun to spread as early as Tuesday that something dramatic was about to happen. But process operator Johnson went to work at Northvolt in Skellefteå as usual, as he had done for the past two years.
It wasn't a total surprise. But it was still a shock, he says.
Johnson, who does not want to give his last name, comes from Nigeria and first ended up in Skåne for his studies. Then he moved to Västerbotten and the enormous factory complex that became the symbol of the green industry that began to emerge in Sweden.
It felt like we were doing something important, that I was part of something important, considering the positive effects on the environment, and considering that it had never been done before, he says.
"Could have been fixed"
But manufacturing batteries on a large scale proved to be more difficult than Northvolt had anticipated. While the company expanded and invested in factories in other parts of the world, it struggled to get enough batteries out of the factory in Skellefteå.
When you make batteries, you have to learn everything as you go along. It's a very difficult process. The slightest deviation can have severe effects in a later stage, says Johnson.
Michail, who does not want to give his real name, comes from the EU and has worked almost four years at Northvolt. He says he is not surprised by the bankruptcy and believes that potential investors have been waiting for it to pick the cherries.
He says that after the autumn's turbulence and CEO change, efficiency has improved.
We now produce as much on one production line as we did on four previously. And with high quality. We have some problems, but they could have been fixed in maybe six months. Now someone else will get to reap the benefits, he says.
Three-month deadline
Michail blames Northvolt's failure on the previous management. Personally, he is covered by unemployment insurance and hopes that in the worst case, there will be jobs in southern Sweden – if battery production in Skellefteå goes under.
But it's a lot of stress for ordinary people on the floor, who can lose their visas and everything just because there were some greedy bastards at the top, he says.
Johnson hopes for a continued future in Sweden. But time is running out. He has three months to find a new job when his employment ends.
I'll try to find a new job, but it won't be easy, because we're 3,000 chasing the same jobs, he says.
Several requirements must be met to obtain a work permit in Sweden if you are a citizen outside the EU.
+ A signed employment contract with conditions in line with Swedish collective agreements, a valid passport, and a salary equivalent to at least 80 percent of the median salary, which will be at least 28,480 kronor as of June 2024.
+ If the employment ends, you can stay for three months to look for new employment according to the requirements above before the permit is revoked.
Source: The Migration Agency
