Sam Peter from India is determined to work and live in Sweden regardless of whether he finds a job now or later.
Norran was there on the rainy Monday when the majority of the remaining Northvolt workers handed in their things. About 80–90 people will remain in Skellefteå to work on maintenance, the bankruptcy receiver states. At the same time negotiations continue with the five parties that have shown an interest in the factory.
The mood outside the gates is subdued when we talk to the workers leaving. Several express great worry about the short timeframe they have to look for a new job before they have to leave the country.
Sam Peter has worked at Northvolt for three years as an analyst and had to hand in his things on the very last day. He has studied in Sweden and is very anxious about getting to stay in the country.
– There is an economic downturn in Sweden but I still hope to be able to find a job. I will apply for jobs and if I have to leave the country after three months I’ll go to India and apply for jobs from there. I want to live in Sweden because the work-life balance is a lot better here, Sam Peter says.
In the last few weeks the employees have been working on delivering the last batteries to Scania and close down and secure the factory.
– I feel that we have done a very good job the last two months. I hope that the factory can survive and be started up again under new ownership. It's really tough for me, this was my first job after graduating. Now I’ll have a final beer with the buddies from Northvolt, Sam concludes.
Kristoffer Nordlund has worked at Northvolt for the last two years.
Kristoffer Nordlund has worked at Northvolt for the last two years as a maintenance engineer.
– It’s of course sad that it’s over but I have hopes of the factory starting up again with a new owner. It’s sad to leave all my nice colleagues.
How have you perceived the company’s communication?
– The hardest thing has been that you’ve not been informed about anything until the very last minute. Often we’ve received news from the media before we've got any information from the company. Us colleagues have had to share information about what’s going on.
Regarding his own future, Kristoffer intends to switch careers and study to get into veterinary school.