Airbus to Cut 15,000 Jobs Globally; Moroccan Workers’ Fate Uncertain

These announced job cuts represent 11% of Airbus’ global workforce, and reflect the aircraft manufacturer’s desire to "resize its commercial aviation business" in these times of covid-19, the group said in a statement. In detail, Airbus intends to eliminate around 5,100 positions in Germany, 5,000 in France, 1,700 in the United Kingdom, 900 in Spain and 1,300 in the group’s other sites worldwide. Including certainly in Morocco where the group is present.

"Although forced departures cannot be ruled out at this stage, Airbus will work with its social partners to limit the impact of this plan by drawing on all available social measures, including voluntary departures, early retirement measures, as well as long-term partial unemployment for activities that lend themselves to it," the aircraft manufacturer said.

The air transport market is "facing the most serious crisis this sector has ever known," said Guillaume Faury, Airbus’ Chief Executive Officer. "The measures taken so far by the company have allowed us to absorb the initial shock of this pandemic. We must now ensure the sustainability of the company and guarantee our ability to emerge from the crisis as the global leader in the aerospace sector, while adapting to the immense challenges faced by our customers," he explained.

"No forced departures of group employees can be considered," the CGE-CGC union assures for its part.