"Painful"

Massive job cuts at SOS Children’s Villages worldwide

A poster of the SOS Children's Village (archive picture)(Bild: APA/HERBERT PFARRHOFER)

The organization SOS Children's Villages International, headquartered in Innsbruck, has announced a 20 percent reduction in jobs in the first quarter of 2025. It was not yet clear how many employees working in Austria would be affected, the company said on Wednesday. The workforce was informed.

SOS Children's Villages International recently had 530 full-time equivalent positions, 183 of which were in Austria. The national organization SOS Children's Villages Austria is not affected. The reduction in staff also has no impact on childcare.

The "restructuring" in the umbrella organization is taking place as part of a transfer of resources and decision-making powers to the member countries, it said. The details are still being worked out.

Participants in a sidewalk chalk campaign by SOS Children's Villages(Bild: APA/HERBERT NEUBAUER)

"Painful"
The job cuts are "painful" for those affected, said Managing Director Angela Rosales. At the same time, the transformation would help to better care for children without parental support.

Second and final wave
SOS Children's Villages International had already announced 100 job cuts in January, 40 of which were in Austria. At that time, 15 percent of the 690 employees were affected. The planned job cuts are the second and final wave, it was assured.