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ASML Staff Walk Out Over Job Cuts
24 Mar
Summary
- Over 1,000 ASML employees protested job cuts.
- The company plans to eliminate 1,700 positions.
- Union leaders are set to respond to the social plan on April 7.

Over a thousand ASML employees participated in a lunchtime walkout at their Veldhoven, Netherlands headquarters on Tuesday. This action was a protest against the computer chip equipment maker's reorganization plans, which include cutting 1,700 jobs, representing 3.8% of its staff. The company announced these cuts in January as part of a strategy to shed 3,000 middle-management roles and refocus engineers on innovation.
Union representatives urged ASML to reconsider its approach, proposing a plan that avoids forced layoffs. They highlighted the company's substantial net profit of 9.6 billion euros in 2025 and its intention to buy back 12 billion euros worth of shares over the next three years, suggesting financial capacity for a more careful approach.
ASML acknowledged the employees' concerns and stated it respects unions. The company indicated it would continue with its reorganization, including developing a social plan. This plan is intended to cover employee retraining and severance packages. Unions are scheduled to provide their response to this social plan by April 7, with the internal works council offering formal advice in May.



