Employment Law

Maersk Layoffs: 10,000 jobs cut as shipping demand weakens

A photo of shipping containers in various colours. (Photo: Ishant Mishra / Unsplash)

Maersk, a global leader in container shipping, is set to reduce its workforce by 10,000 jobs in response to the downturn in the shipping market. The Denmark-based company has announced a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at countering the effects of declining demand in the industry.

Restructuring Strategy Amid Market Downturn

In a recent discussion with analysts, Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc outlined the company’s strategy to navigate the challenging economic environment. “Given the challenging times ahead, we accelerated several cost and cash containment measures,” Clerc stated, confirming the depth of the market’s impact on operations.

  • The company started the year with 110,000 employees and has already reduced that number by 6,500.
  • The upcoming layoffs will see an additional 3,500 jobs cut by the end of next year, marking a 9% decrease in its global workforce.
  • “This is not a diet. This is a reset of the baseline,” Clerc emphasized, signaling a substantial recalibration of the company’s structure.

Financial Adjustments in Response to Market Conditions

The restructuring will bring about significant financial adjustments. Maersk is bracing for restructuring charges of $350 million in the current year, marking an increase from the previously announced $150 million.

Market Reaction and Forward-Looking Statements

Following the announcement, there was a noticeable drop in Maersk’s stock value, with a 17% decline to a 52-week low observed. This movement in the market reflects investor response to the company’s cost-cutting initiatives and the general sentiment about future industry conditions.

Major layoffs continue

The reduction at Maersk comes amid a flurry of layoffs in 2023.

Major North American companies, including National Bank, Nokia, Desjardins, Scotiabank, LinkedIn, AmazonTwitch, and Google, have announced deep job cuts as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Firm launches $130M class action against Shopify for breach of contract
Panera laying off 17% of corporate staff ahead of IPO
Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Termination agreements for Maersk employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Maersk are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or the closure of the business.

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

People working “on contract” or as a contractor may also be owed severance pay — given that many employees in Canada are often misclassified as independent contractors.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

LEARN MORE
Severance for provincially regulated employees
Rights to severance for federally regulated workers
Severance packages in mass layoffs


WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go on an episode of the Employment Law Show.


Before you accept any severance offer, have an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review it and your employment contract.

We can tell you if what you have been provided is fair and how to get proper severance if it falls short of what you are actually owed.

If you don’t receive the full amount, which happens often, you have been wrongfully dismissed and are entitled to compensation.

In some cases, employers pressure staff into accepting poor severance packages, such as imposing a deadline for accepting the offer.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue a claim for full severance pay.

Fired? Lost Your Job?

Speak with Canada's most positively reviewed employment law firm today to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve

Get Help Now

Advice You Need. Compensation You Deserve.

Consult with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. We are one of Canada's most experienced and trusted employment, labour and disability law firms. Take advantage of our years of experience and success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.

Get help now