Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Belgium
Region
Vlaams Gewest; Prov. Limburg (BE);
Location of affected unit(s)
Laakdal, Ham
Sector
Transportation / Storage
52 - Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation
52.1 - Warehousing and storage
52.1 - Warehousing and storage

411 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
11 March 2026
Employment effect (start)
18 March 2026
Foreseen end date

Description

Nike, a global sportswear brand based in the United States, announced that it will cut 411 jobs in its Belgian logistics hubs in Laakdal and Ham. The cuts include 330 weekend workers and 81 logistics positions.

The restructuring is set to begin shortly after the announcement, with negotiations slated to start next week. The restructuring plan was presented to the works council, and negotiations with social partners will take place. Trade unions, including the socialist union BBTK, are involved and have publicly commented on the causes of the restructuring. The workforce reduction is largely a direct dismissal, but the company has also introduced voluntary exit schemes and early retirement options to offset the impact on employees.

The company cites the need to strengthen and streamline its European operations, centralise logistics, and automate processes as the main drivers behind the job cuts, while also responding to the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sales volumes.

Nike has been present in Belgium for more than 30 years and established its European Logistics Campus in Laakdal in 1994. The campus is the largest employer in the region, with nearly 5,000 employees.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2026), Nike, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 204617, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/204617.