The Swedish furniture giant Ikea announced on Thursday the suspension of its activities in Russia and Belarus, affecting nearly 15,000 employees, 17 stores and three production sites.
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“The war has a huge human impact and also translates into serious disruptions in the production and trade chain, which is why the companies of the group have decided to temporarily suspend Ikea’s activities in Russia”, indicates the group in a press release sent to AFP.
This suspension mainly concerns Russia, where the Swedish group has been present since 2000 and is one of the main Western employers. Belarus hosts only a few vendors and has no stores, according to Ikea.
“The devastating war in Ukraine is a human tragedy, and our deepest empathy and concern goes to the millions of people affected,” said the group, divided into different holdings.
“These decisions will have a direct impact on approximately 15,000 employees, and the companies of the group will ensure job and income security, providing them with support for them and their families”, affirms the Swedish giant, number one industry worldwide.
If the stores operated by the Ingka holding concentrate most of the affected workforce (12,000 people), Ikea has nearly 2,500 employees in the production part, with three factories in Russia, which produce mainly for the local market.
According to the group, 47 suppliers in Russia and 10 in Belarus are also affected by its decision, which closes the door to any import-export from or to the two countries.
Prior to this announcement, Ikea had initially announced that it was leaving its stores open in the country, which earned it some criticism in Sweden.
afp