State rail services provider VR said on Thursday that it plans large-scale furloughs next year as it attempts to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
The company said that more than 4,000 employees could be sent home temporarily. The planned furloughs would affect 3,000 rail workers, 400 employees from kiosk and restaurant services subsidiary Avecra and 950 people from rolling stock maintenance company VR FleetCare.
The furloughs will either be indefinite or last a maximum of 90 days.
VR Group cited the impact of the coronavirus epidemic for the decision and said in a statement that it would take years for operations to be restored to pre-pandemic levels.
Co-determination talks related to the planned layoffs will begin on 12 November.