Stellantis workers block Belgrade highway over layoff plans, 22 June 2022

Workers from automaker Stellantis' Serbian plant blocked the main highway in the capital Belgrade...to protest planned layoffs as part of a switch to producing electric vehicles.

Last month, the company offered some of its 2,000 workers at its Serbian plant a choice between moving abroad for two years to re-train in electric car production, or taking redundancy - a move that was opposed by unions.

The offer came after Serbia and Stellantis in April agreed a deal of over 190 million euros...for the carmaker to produce electric vehicles at the industrial city of Kragujevac. Serbia is investing 48 million euros in the plant.

Some 300 workers, led by union activists, brought the main highway in Belgrade to a standstill...saying they opposed the choice given to them and that the government should offer severance packages or job options for those laid off.

"If they (the government) have 48 million euros for the foreigners, they have far less money that is needed to cover us until we find other jobs," said Zoran Miljkovic, a union activist.

A Serbia-based company spokesman declined to comment...