Qcells Reduces Salaries and Working Hours in Georgia

• Qcells reduces salaries and working hours due to import delays
• 300 workers may be laid off at plants in Georgia
• The company is completing the construction of a new factory to reduce imports

This is reported by ABC News, The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The South Korean company Qcells, which is part of Hanwha Solutions, announced a temporary reduction in salaries and working hours for nearly 1,000 of its 3,000 employees in Georgia.

This decision was made due to delays in importing components necessary for producing solar panels, by American customs services. The company also plans to lay off 300 workers who are employed through staffing agencies at its plants in Dalton and Cartersville, located in the northern part of the state of Georgia.

Delays are occurring on the basis of suspicions that imported components are made from materials produced in China, which violates the U.S. law against the use of forced labor in the production of solar panels.

Secretary of the Interior of the U.S. Department of the Interior Kristi Noem announced in September the strengthening of control over the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits the import of Chinese goods produced with the help of forced labor. It is known that the delays of solar elements, produced by Qcells, began in June.

A company representative stated that none of Qcells' materials or components are produced using forced labor and do not come from China. The company emphasized that it adheres to strict measures of control over supplies and has detailed documentation that helped to lay off some employees.

Qcells expects to resume full production in the coming weeks and months. The company noted that the average salary of its employees is about $53,000 per year, and workers retain all benefits during the downtime.

The company is also completing the construction of a factory in Cartersville worth $2.3 billion, which will allow it to produce ingots, plastics, and solar elements, which will reduce the need for importing solar modules.

Qcells confirmed its commitment to creating a domestic supply chain for solar energy in the U.S. and stated that it intends to return to normal operations soon.

Tags: USA/Energy