Ocado Technology, the British retail technology giant’s division, has initiated a collective redundancy process in Barcelona. This move affects 122 employees, representing 72% of its workforce in the city’s 22@ district.
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Sources from the works council exclusively told Metrópoli Abierta about the significant job cuts. The company attributes these redundancies to “productive and organisational reasons,” rather than economic difficulties. This decision follows a strategy to relocate production to countries with “lower labour costs,” according to the same sources. The process impacts highly qualified professionals, including software developers, data scientists, product managers, and UX writers.
Significant Job Losses in Barcelona’s 22@
This development marks another significant round of layoffs in Barcelona’s burgeoning tech sector. Just over a month ago, Adevinta, the parent company of Infojobs and Fotocasa, also announced mass redundancies at its Barcelona headquarters. The 22@ district, often hailed as Barcelona’s innovation hub, has attracted numerous international tech firms. It is home to thousands of tech professionals and plays a crucial role in the city’s digital economy. Ocado Technology provides essential services for major clients, including prominent Spanish retailers Alcampo and Bonpreu. The relocation of these roles raises concerns about the future of high-value tech employment in the city.
Employee Protests Planned
The collective redundancy process remains in its consultation phase. However, the works council has already announced plans for protests. These demonstrations will take place outside the company’s offices in Barcelona’s financial district. Employees are also actively considering the possibility of calling strikes. These actions aim to challenge the company’s decision and highlight the impact on the affected staff. The situation underscores ongoing challenges within the global tech industry, which has seen widespread restructuring and job reductions in recent months.
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Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta – Urban Life. Read original article.
