Ardo Groß-Enzersdorf: Social plan negotiations under way

Ardo spokeswoman Susanne Rosenkranz still considers the outcome of the talks uncertain. “Wie sich die Situation tatsächlich entwickeln wird, lässt sich zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch nicht abschätzen. Wir stehen deshalb in engem Austausch mit dem AMS, um auf mögliche Entwicklungen frühzeitig vorbereitet zu sein und die betroffenen Arbeitnehmer bestmöglich unterstützen zu können“, she told APA.

Rosenkranz: AMS as a partner for employees

Alongside the negotiations, preparations for reintegration via the Public Employment Service (AMS) are under way. AMS Lower Austria has already announced initial information sessions for those affected and is preparing training and retraining opportunities tailored to regional labour-market demand. The financial situation of families and the issue of commuting workers from the surrounding area are also relevant.

Politically, the issue has intensified in recent weeks. The FPÖ has repeatedly made the looming loss of jobs the subject of inquiries in the state parliament and is calling for assistance for workers and stronger support for regional food production. The Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture is also warning of the consequences already being felt by local agriculture.

Political reactions and consequences for agriculture

According to the Chamber of Agriculture, the closure is already having an impact far beyond the fields: In the Marchfeld, Lower Austria’s largest vegetable-growing area, no winter spinach was cultivated this year because contract acreage for processing in Groß-Enzersdorf is disappearing. The plant’s closure therefore affects not only workers directly employed there, but also the region’s supplying farmers.

Food retailers such as Spar, which has counted the plant among its regional suppliers for years, are also closely monitoring developments. Industry sources point out that frozen vegetable production in Austria is now concentrated at only a few locations, meaning the closure will noticeably alter the supply structure for domestically produced frozen vegetables.

The trade union stresses that, in addition to financial severance payments, the key issues are fair transition periods and clear social selection criteria. Attention will be paid to ensuring that older workers and people with family responsibilities are particularly considered, according to people involved in the negotiations. Internal transfers to other Ardo sites are also to be examined, provided this is reasonable for those affected.

Schedule through the end of November

The coming weeks are considered decisive: A framework for the social plan is to be in place by the end of November 2026, giving employees clarity about their individual options before the first production line is shut down in December 2026. AMS expects that some of those affected can be placed in other sectors in the region through qualification programmes.

For the market town of Groß-Enzersdorf, the approaching end of the plant also represents a major setback in local politics. The mayor and municipal representatives have announced additional advisory days for affected families and are working with AMS to determine whether mobile advisory services can be set up directly on the plant grounds.

Overall, it is becoming clear that the closure of the Ardo plant will have consequences beyond the immediate workforce, affecting agriculture, upstream and downstream service providers, and municipal infrastructure. At a minimum, the social plan negotiations are intended to cushion the transition for employees so that the hardships involved remain as limited as possible.