European Companies Take Steps Against Coronavirus: Roundup
30 January 2020 - 2:57AM
Dow Jones News
As concerns around the coronavirus epidemic rise in tandem with
the number of people infected, European companies have taken steps
to safeguard their staff and operations. Here are their responses
so far:
Volkswagen China Subsidiary Urges 3,500 Employees to Work From Home, Suspends Business Travel
Volkswagen AG's Chinese subsidiary Volkswagen Group China is
urging roughly 3,500 employees in Beijing to work from home for two
weeks as the coronavirus continues to spread.
"The period will start from the first day following Beijing's
Chinese New Year Holiday, Feb. 3, and will last until Feb. 17," the
German car maker's subsidiary said Tuesday.
Volkswagen Group China also suspended international- and
domestic-business travel until further notice.
Griffin Mining Operations at China Mine Suspended Due to Coronavirus
Griffin Mining Ltd. said Wednesday that it has been unable to
resume mining activity at the Caijiaying zinc, gold, silver and
lead mine in China due to travel restrictions imposed by Chinese
authorities in relation to the coronavirus outbreak.
It will take at least six days to restart operations, the
China-focused mining company said.
Griffin had planned to recommence mining operations on Wednesday
following the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.
IAG Takes Measures Against Coronavirus
British Airways--a member of International Consolidated Airlines
Group SA--said on Wednesday that it was cancelling all flights to
mainland China with immediate effect. All flights to Beijing and
Shanghai were cancelled following advice from the U.K.'s Foreign
Office warning against all but essential travel. Flights to Hong
Kong won't be affected, British Airways said.
Meanwhile, Iberia--another IAG Group airline--said it was in
talks with Spain's health and foreign-affairs ministries regarding
the coronavirus situation in China, but that its next China-bound
flight was not until Friday.
Bosch Is Concerned About Coronavirus Outbreak
Robert Bosch's business operations haven't been affected by the
outbreak of the coronavirus so far, but future developments could
be concerning, the company's management board chairman Volkmar
Denner said Wednesday.
The automotive supplier has around 800 employees at two Wuhan
plants, which will be closed until Feb. 3 due to the Lunar New Year
holiday, which was extended by the Chinese government in light of
the situation.
While the company doesn't expect any impact until early
February, if the situation lasts longer and supply chains are
disrupted, this could change very quickly, Denner said.
ABB: Employees Arriving From China Barred From Offices
Swiss engineering company ABB said Tuesday that all employees
arriving from China or Hong Kong must work remotely for 14 days
before being allowed on a company site. ABB said it was also
restricting travel to and from China to essential business travel
only. Travel to Wuhan or the Hubei province is banned in line with
Chinese governmental measures, ABB said.
The company has around 100 employees in Wuhan and around 20,000
staff in China.
SAP's Wuhan Office Extends New Year Holiday for Staff
German enterprise software giant SAP has introduced
precautionary measures at its regional office in Wuhan in light of
the coronavirus outbreak. The company said Tuesday that it has
extended the New Year holiday for its staff by one week and has
taken "heightened actions," which include more frequent
disinfections at all regional offices.
SAP recently opened the Wuhan office and employs about 6,000
staff in China.
Wacker Chemie Bans Business Trips to and From China
German chemicals company Wacker Chemie has banned business
travel for its employees to and from China as a precautionary
measure and until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak,
it said Tuesday.
"Our health service is monitoring developments and will propose
further measures to the company management if necessary," the
company said.
Wacker Chemie employs around 1,000 staff members at three
productions sites and seven sales offices in China.
Write to Barcelona editors at barcelonaeditors@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 29, 2020 10:42 ET (15:42 GMT)
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