Northvolt, the Swedish battery manufacturer, has announced the layoff of 840 employees at its Skellefteå factory due to ongoing financial difficulties.

This decision follows negotiations with the union IF Metall, which began after Northvolt initially warned of 1,600 potential job cuts in September.

The layoffs primarily affect operators, with those hired most recently being the first to go.

Despite efforts to mitigate the impact, including some reassignments and shift changes, the situation remains a significant blow to the workforce.

IF Metall's representative, Johan Larsson, described the outcome as a tragedy for those affected, while Northvolt acknowledged the challenging period for its employees.