RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian marketleader Volkswagen will suspend production for 12 days, starting Wednesday, March 24th, in all its plants in Brazil because of the worsening of the pandemic. Activities will be suspended until April 4th in the automaker’s plants in São Bernardo do Campo, Taubaté and São Carlos, in São Paulo, and in the plant in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná.
“With the worsening of pandemic cases and the increase in the rate of ICU bed occupancy in Brazilian states, the company has taken this step in order to preserve the health of its employees and their families,” says the company in a statement.
Only essential activities will be maintained in the plants, and employees in administrative areas will work remotely. The decision for the measure was taken jointly with the local labor unions, the automaker adds.