BASF Moves Jobs from Berlin to India - BASF slashes Berlin jobs, shifts key divisions to India amid backlash
Chemical giant BASF has announced plans to downsize its Berlin operations and shift key divisions to India. The move will see finance, human resources, and global business services relocated, though the exact number of affected jobs remains unclear. Berlin's political and labour leaders have already raised concerns over the decision.
Before the announcement, BASF employed around 2,800 people at its Berlin site. The company now intends to transfer several core functions to a new global hub in India, leaving only regional operations in the German capital. Officials have not specified how many roles will be cut or which services will stay.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner responded by urging transparency. He called on BASF to provide clear details about its future plans for the site and stressed the need for a socially responsible approach. Works councils were also involved early in the process to address employee concerns.
Criticism has come from labour representatives. Stephanie Albrecht-Suliak, chair of the works council, accused the company of gradually eroding jobs in Germany while pouring billions into Asian markets. The Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE) went further, labelling the decision as irresponsible. Union leader Michael Vassiliadis condemned the move for dismantling a collective bargaining project that had created thousands of jobs in Berlin.
BASF framed the restructuring as part of a wider strategy. The goal is to streamline services, increase automation, and reduce costs by shifting operations to more efficient locations.
The relocation will see major divisions move from Berlin to India, though the full impact on staff numbers is still unknown. Labour unions and local officials have condemned the decision, arguing it weakens Germany's industrial base. BASF maintains the changes will improve efficiency and global competitiveness.
