In Ringsted, Mayor Klaus Hansen (V) is facing a major challenge after Danish Crown unexpectedly announced the closure of their slaughterhouse in the city, which has sent shockwaves through the local community. The slaughterhouse, which is the city’s largest private employer, employed 1200 workers until recently, who are now left without jobs. The mayor expresses his frustration over the lack of prior notification from the company. “It was a terribly awful piece of news because it will affect so many employees,” says Klaus Hansen to Ritzau. He adds that an earlier warning from the company could have made a significant difference in the municipality’s ability to prepare and respond to the situation.
Now, the mayor is focusing on assessing the full consequences of the closure and finding solutions for the affected employees. “It will be work that we primarily need to handle through our labor market center,” he explains. The collaboration will also include trade unions and local businesses, where they hope to create new job opportunities for the many affected employees. This sudden development places significant demands on the municipality’s ability to quickly adapt and support its citizens through a difficult time. It is a priority for Klaus Hansen and his team to ensure that the transition for the affected employees is as smooth as possible and that the municipality can continue to maintain a stable economy despite the major challenge.