TOPOĽČANY, SLOVAKIA – Slovakia’s largest furniture manufacturer, Decodom, is facing a critical financial situation, with employees sent home on forced leave and wages being paid in installments, according to reports and statements from company officials. The Topoľčany-based company, with a 30-year history, owes nearly €362,000 to the Social Insurance Agency and is struggling to secure materials for production.
“Currently, we have nothing to do. Today, perhaps 120 people are at home, they have been ordered to leverage their vacation days. I think there will be no one here next week because no material has arrived. No one knows what is happening,” a Decodom employee told the Aktuality.sk news portal last week.
Ivan Kopanický, Decodom’s temporary general director, confirmed the company’s difficulties, stating that December wages were paid in two installments, but in accordance with labor contracts which stipulate payment by the end of the month. He indicated that paying February wages on time and in full remains a priority.
Kopanický also confirmed that employees have been instructed to take leave, attributing the situation to Slovakia’s vulnerability as a small, open economy. “The situation is not simple, and given that we are a small open economy, it affects us even more. Consolidation measures are not helping us either,” he said.
Decodom is reportedly in negotiations with multiple potential investors, with a possible sale expected by the end of February. Kopanický declined to provide details, citing non-disclosure agreements. Employees, whereas, have expressed growing anxiety, recalling warnings of potential bankruptcy as early as November 2025. They reported receiving wages without a variable component – approximately 9% of their income – in October and November, but ultimately receiving the full amount for December.
“I am writing to you on behalf of several workers from production. We have small children, we have mortgages, and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We are disgusted with how things are working here,” one employee stated.
The financial strain is also impacting Decodom’s supply chain. Delays in payments to suppliers have slowed production, leading to extended delivery times for customers. Some customers have reportedly cancelled orders and requested discounts. “Before Christmas, there was a promotion for delivery before the holidays, but we didn’t have the material. People cancelled orders, we had to give them discounts so they would take the kitchens,” another employee said.
Decodom previously faced a similar crisis during the 2020 pandemic, but was able to stabilize after a reorganization. The company, which has a history spanning over 70 years, is a leading manufacturer of kitchen furniture in Slovakia and a major exporter of living room furniture. It also produces furniture for bedrooms, children’s rooms, hallways, and offices.
As of February 26, 2026, Decodom had reportedly settled its debt to the Social Insurance Agency, according to TREND magazine, and is planning an investment in modernization and modern production machinery. The Social Insurance Agency, branch in Topoľčany, can be contacted at SK29 8180 0000 0070 0015 6170.
