Russia: layoffs and short-time working in the auto industry

Russian carmakers are fully experiencing the drop in sales on the domestic market.  AvtoVaz, GAZ and UAZ, the 3 major local companies, have seen orders for new cars and light commercial vehicles drop, respectively, by 15, 9 and 15 percent in 2013 compared with the previous year, according to the European Business Association.   This situation is leading to mass layoffs and short-time working in the industry.  AvtoVaz, of which Renault-Nissan group is a majority shareholder, announced, in late January, 7,500 job cuts in its Togliatti plant, i.e. about 11 percent of the workforce.