Russia's largest cement manufacturer adopts new 4-day work schedule
CEMROS Implements Temporary Four-Day Workweek to Navigate Economic Challenges
Russia's largest cement producer, CEMROS, is set to implement a four-day workweek starting October 1, 2025. This move comes in response to declining cement consumption and rising imports, with the primary aim of preserving jobs while maintaining the full social package for employees.
The change affects over 13,000 employees across the managing company and all production sites. CEMROS unites 18 cement plants and over 30 quarries for the extraction of non-metallic materials.
Impact on Employees
Employees will have their workweek reduced to four days but will retain full social benefits. This move indicates a protection of workers' rights and welfare despite reduced hours. The measure aims to avoid layoffs by reducing working time instead of workforce cuts.
Impact on Production
Production will shift to a four-day schedule in response to falling demand and excess inventory due to decreased construction activity and increased imports. Previously, Cemros had suspended operations at one plant (Belgorod) due to unprofitability. This step may help sustain operations more broadly across plants without full shutdowns.
Long-term Stability
The company frames this as a temporary adjustment that will be reversed if the construction market improves. The four-day week serves as a strategy to balance economic challenges without undermining the company's social responsibility or risking employee layoffs. The aim is to preserve stability in a volatile market.
CEMROS aims to retain its qualified staff and ensure a stable production volume that meets market needs. The decision is aimed at preserving jobs and adapting to the current market situation. This temporary transition is designed to ensure the company's long-term stability and maintain social balance during economic instability.
In summary, Cemros’s four-day workweek is a response to economic pressures, designed to protect jobs and maintain operational stability by adapting work schedules rather than reducing personnel or halting production entirely. Employee social packages will remain unchanged during the temporary four-day workweek. CEMROS remains committed to its role as a diversified industrial holding, the leader of the Russian cement industry.
[1] Live Kuban, "CEMROS to introduce a four-day workweek from October 1," 2025. [2] Construction Review, "CEMROS implements four-day workweek in response to market instability," 2025. [3] Financial Times, "Russian cement market faces challenges due to declining demand and increased imports," 2025.
- The temporary four-day workweek implemented by CEMROS in the industry sector aims to maintain financial stability, as it helps reduce costs without resorting to layoffs, thereby preserving business operations in the volatile Russian cement market.
- In the realm of energy and business, CEMROS's four-day workweek strategy demonstrates a commitment to both employee welfare and operational sustainability, as it ensures a stable production volume while navigating economic challenges and maintaining full social benefits for its employees.