CEMEX Fires 50% of Employees, Shuts Down 5 Plants In Costa Rica
April 24th, 2009 | by admin |CEMEX, founded in Mexico in 1906, that has grown to one of the top global companies, is a leading producer of cement and ready-mix concrete in Costa Rica.
The economic crisis that has hit the construction industry in Costa Rica is the main reason behind the firing of 125 employees by the cement company, CEMEX. The firing represents 50% of the total staff.
In addition it shut down 5 plants across the country.
Carlos González, general manager of the CEMEX, gave the bad news yesterday, adding that the company is also reducing its investment in Costa Rica.
“The next three to six months will be very complicated, as projects come to an end and nothing new is on the horizon”, said González.
CEMEX, according to González, has invested some us$160 million dollars in Costa Rica over the last 10 years. The general manager said that the company will continue to invest, but only about us$2 million dollars for this year.
CEMEX has seen the demand for cement drop 20% and concrete 30%, as the construction of large projects like hotels, commercial centres, especially in the Pacific northm, has dropped.
The company has tried to reduce mass firings by insituting some 70 initiatives that range from energy savings to optimizing the company’s resources, said González, who feels the government has to move to attract more investments in new markets, outside of the US.
