EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (WLS) -- A steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana, is laying off hundreds of employees.
In a letter, ArcelorMittal said the layoffs for 877 people at its Indiana plant take effect Saturday.
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A majority of those are labeled as indefinite layoffs, meaning the jobs could return. But the company said it expects the layoffs will last longer than six months.
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The company said the layoffs are a result of decreased demand for steel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of its customers closed their operations due to the coronavirus crisis, and, despite their reopenings, business conditions continue to be depressed, ArcelorMittal said.
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It does not anticipate improvement in demand "in the near term."