European Bearing Corporation (Russia; 5251R9N7) plant in Saratov is set to put at least 500 more workers on layoff as demand continues weak from Domestic automakers and industrial customers.

Earlier this year, Saratov and Volgograd were reportedly shut down for several weeks to let demand catch up with production.

article: European Bearing cuts manufacturing
The plant has also been running short workweeks for several months.

Late last year, EBC had promised not to lay off any workers, but demand has dropped to such an extent that there was little left for workers to do.

EBC also blames the decline in orders on both cheap bearings being imported from Ukraine, and the Russian government for failing to live up to its commitment to buy from domestic producers.

Across all of its bearing manufacturing plants, EBC is dealing with dramatic declines in demand -- from rail, industrial, automotive and aircraft/aerospace -- and is working short weeks, laying off more workers and asking government officials for various forms of assistance in order to get through the economic downturn.