The Employment Agency in Skellefteå has prepared and loaded the office to receive around 800 former employees of Northvolt, reports Swedish Radio (Sveriges Radio). To receive unemployment benefits from the state, it is required to register on the first day of official unemployment. Skellefteå's Employment Agency has also prepared for the fact that around 500 of the 800 do not speak Swedish.
Job opportunities for Northvolt employees
According to Skellefteå Municipality, there are still available jobs in the area, although they are in completely different industries than Northvolt operated in. According to the Swedish Association of Engineers, there are jobs in Sweden that are suitable for engineers from Northvolt.
Recent developments at Northvolt
At the end of last week, Northvolt's former CEO and founder Peter Karlsson resigned. At the same time, Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the USA (a request for reconstruction of the company). This is to release more capital, with around $245 million being released as a result. In an interview on SVT's Agenda program, Peter Karlsson did not rule out the possibility of reconstruction in Sweden.
Wage guarantee in Sweden
Wage guarantee is a state compensation to employees in the event of an employer's bankruptcy, covering wages and certain other employment-related benefits earned three months prior to and one month after the bankruptcy application. However, it does not apply when a Chapter 11 process is initiated in the USA. A wage guarantee can apply in cross-border situations where the employer is based in another Nordic or EU/EEA country. A reconstruction application in Sweden for Northvolt would lead to wage guarantee.
