Duty of care – Continental restarts tyre production in Russia

Although war continues to rage in Ukraine, German tyre maker Continental is once again producing in Russia. The reason the company gives for resuming tyre manufacture is duty of care for its Russian workforce.

Continental ceased tyre making activities at its Kaluga plant in March, but according to German newspaper the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) partially resumed production late last week. Confirming this development, Continental told the newspaper that it restarted production as its managers and local employees had been threatened with “severe criminal consequences” if they didn’t meet local demand. “The basis for this step is the duty of care for our employees in Russia,” explained a company representative.

According to the FAZ, the talk is of temporary production to address specific requirements, with output well below the plant’s prior utilisation. Continental says it is not pursuing any “profit-making intention.”