Most of the job losses at Billund will be among manufacturing staff

Most of the job losses at Billund will be among manufacturing staff

Danish toy maker Lego is to shed 257 staff at its headquarters in Billund due to lower production requirements for 2004. Most of the losses will be among manufacturing staff.

The company reported slow sales of its plastic brick products in the first half of 2003, especially in the US and Asia. Despite strong sales over the past few months, Lego was keen to enter 2004 with “a strong control of its inventory”.

Lego is reviewing its businesses to increase the company’s competitiveness. It said the work “will take into consideration changes to the toy market which is becoming increasingly global and influenced by media, fashion and trends”.

Meanwhile, Lego is reviewing the shutdown of its moulding operation in Baar, Switzerland. The closure will affect 130 staff, 11 of whom have already moved to Lego’s other Swiss sites at Willisau and Steinhausen. Opportunities within the Lego group for the remaining staff will now be examined, the company said. The majority of production at Baar, due to close next year, will be transferred to Billund, Denmark.