Toyota workers in Brazil voted overwhelmingly yesterday to approve a temporary layoff after a storm damaged one of its factories in Sao Paulo, the union reported.
Heavy rain and strong winds on September 22 damaged Toyota’s Porto Feliz plant, a facility that produces engines.
The incident forced the company to halt production at the plant as well as a facility in Sorocaba, where vehicles such as the Yaris, Corolla and Corolla Cross are assembled.
The union said the layoff plan was intended to protect workers’ jobs and income, starting October 21 after 20 days of emergency leave and could be extended for up to 150 days.
Toyota said it was still assessing the damage at the Porto Feliz plant and expected work to resume in a few months.
The company is now looking for alternative engine suppliers from Toyota units in other countries to resume production at the Sorocaba and Indaiatuba plants.
According to the Sorocaba Metal Workers Union, more than 96% of workers who voted approved the proposed layoff. Of the 4,492 employees eligible to vote, 3,709 participated yesterday.
