The City of Lahti has already started support measures for Novartis workers who lose their jobs – state help is also needed

The closure of Novartis in Nastola comes at a difficult time. Almost one in six people in Lahti is already without a job.

Lahti currently has an unemployment rate of 16% and more than 9 000 unemployed jobseekers.

The announcement did not come as a surprise. The city already started supporting the plant at the end of last year, when the plant was undergoing redundancy negotiations. The city is also trying to find new business and industrial activities at Novart’s premises.

The weak situation in the construction industry is having a widespread impact, and there are currently few vacancies in the direct kitchen equipment industry across Finland.

– Businesses are cautious at the moment, but not all jobs may be in open searches. We are in the employment service to launch job search more widely to find them hidden jobs.

State support needed

In Lahti, it is believed that the growth of industrial companies will begin towards the end of the year, when Novart’s resignation will be realized.

– We begin to be in a business cycle that it is difficult to do it alone. Yes, we also expect the state to receive support measures, whether it is financial support or, even if the conditions for employment, to correct the conditions of employment in different ways.

Niko Kyynäräinen points out that Lahti is not alone in the situation.

– This is, of course, talking about the entire construction industry and its related entities, and is one part of the broader question in Finland.