Source: IUF

On 14 May 2019, around 300 Nestlé Russia sales force employees were allegedly forced to resign as part of a restructure, after they were invited to the company's regional centres in 10 cities across Russia under the pretext of discussing "business results". According to the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) - who is supporting the Sales Force Employee's Union - when the workers arrived, the doors of the halls were closed with security at the exits, and that they were told to sign a notice of staff reduction or resign immediately. They were also not allowed to leave until they had signed the contract, with phone calls, messaging and photos prohibited.

Since November 2018, the Sales Force Employees' Union had attempted to engage Nestlé management following rumours of restructuring, but management allegedly refused negotiations and claimed no reductions were planned. 

Union members have been protesting at Nestlé offices across Russia, calling for the reinstatement of those workers forced to resign as part of the restructure and for the company to issue a formal apology and enter into good faith bargaining with the union.

In July 2019, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Nestlé to respond. Nestlé responded that it had informed workers about the changes in its organisational structure and in cases of redundancy employees were given the opportunity to opt for standard reduction conditions as stipulated by the Russian Labour Code or the option to terminate their contracts under more beneficial conditions. It said that most employees affected by the changes have been offered, and have accepted, positions by distributors. The full response is included below.