In a letter to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, Vaude said it wants to prevent the deportation of refugees who are working at the company. Nine refugees from Syria, Nigeria, Gambia, Iraq and Afghanistan are currently working at Vaude. Five of them are facing deportation from Germany. In her letter to Merkel, Antje von Dewitz, chief executive of Vaude, explains the economic consequences and costs that Vaude would face if they are asked to leave the country. Vaude has already invested €10,000 in attorney fees in order to prevent the deportation of its employees, and Vaude would face a loss of production amounting to €247,000 if it cannot rely on those refugees.