KikaLeiner is reaching its final hour: branch closures are imminent!

KikaLeiner is reaching its final hour: branch closures are imminent!

The insolvent furniture chain Kika/Leiner is on the verge of collapse. The 17 remaining branches will close at the end of January. This means the end for around 1,350 employees who will lose their jobs over the course of the year. Due to longer notice periods, long-term employees have to wait until the summer or autumn before they are left without a salary noe.ORF.at reported.

The big sales have been going on in the branches since the beginning of December. The affected customers have until tomorrow to file their insolvency claims. In the last few weeks, due to the large crowds, individual locations have been temporarily closed several times; Waiting times of up to two hours were not uncommon. Security forces had to intervene to control the situation NÖN.at reported. The furniture stores' restaurants closed at the turn of the year and an extension of opening hours for remaining stock was rejected.

Help for employees

Opportunities for professional reorientation are being created for around 500 employees in Lower Austria and 200 in Vienna. In Vienna, this is organized by the Vienna Employees' Promotion Fund (waff), which enables participants to complete training and further education for up to three years and receive unemployment benefits during this time. A training grant of 100 euros per month is also granted. In Lower Austria, the state government still has to decide on the creation of a similar work foundation, which is currently still pending.

The future of the Kika/Leiner branch buildings is still uncertain. The Graz Supernova Group is examining various options for exploiting the properties, with conversion of former locations into REWE warehouses in St. Pölten also being suggested.