Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Netherlands
Region
Zuid-Nederland; Limburg (NL); Zuid-Limburg
Location of affected unit(s)
Born
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture For Transport Equipment
Manufacture Of Motor Vehicles, Trailers And Semi-Trailers
29.10 - Manufacture of motor vehicles

1,800 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
1 June 2023
Employment effect (start)
1 November 2023
Foreseen end date
30 November 2023

Description

Dutch car manufacturer VDL Nedcar is to cut 1800 jobs in its Born establishment due to its inability to find a new client after the announced departure of BMW, its only client. VDL Nedcar currently still assembles cars under contract to BMW. However, the contract with the German car brand expires in March next year. VDL does not rule out further job losses around March next year. Trade unions also fear for jobs at VDL's suppliers. 

Redundancies involve 1000 permanent contracts and 800 temporary agency workers, mainly production workers but also other staff. To keep as many jobs in Born as possible, VDL is diversifying its activities around the Nedcar plant. For instance, it is setting up a Mobility Innovation Centre (MIC) where it plans to produce batteries, among other things, and wants to move other operating companies focused on mobility to Born. VDL is also still looking for clients for the MIC, a spokesman says.

The redundancy notice comes as an unpleasant surprise to the trade unions, which have been discussing a new social plan with the VDL management in recent weeks. Nedcar staff have been on strike several times in recent weeks over the lack of a new social plan. VDL stresses that the current social plan, signed in 2021, pays almost double what is legally required. In addition, the company applies a redundancy bonus of up to €7500. 


Sources

  • 1 June 2023: Het Financieele Dagblad (fd.nl)

Citation

Eurofound (2023), VDL Nedcar, Internal restructuring in Netherlands, factsheet number 109145, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/109145.