Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Carrefour, the French supermaket group, announced on Tuesday 23 February a decision to cut 1,672 jobs and to close 21 stores (14 hypermarkets and 7 supermarkets) in Flanders. If the takeover of another 20 stores (3 hypermarkets and 17 supermarkets) by the Mestdagh group fails, 3,000 additional jobs could be cut.
At present, the group has 630 stores across the country and employs approximately 15,000 workers. In spite of a previous restructuring plan in 2007 and the loss of 900 jobs, one store in two in Belgium loses money. In 2009, Carrefour Belgium faced a sharp drop in sales.
The Belgian Union of White-Collar Staff, Technicians and Managers (Syndicat des Employés, Techniciens et Cadres de Belgique/Vakbond voor Bedienden, Technici en Kaderleden, SETca/BBTK) consider the restructuring plan "disproportionate".
UPDATE on 1 June 2010:
After three months of negotiations, a new plan has been approved by the workers of Carrefour. The social outcome is less severe than the plan that had been announced on 23th February: 16 stores will be closed instead of 21 and 1,092 jobs will be cut, meaning that 580 jobs will be saved. This new restructuring plan will allow the company to make savings of 21 million euro. The number of direct dismissals should be limited by the use of an early retirement scheme for workers aged 52 or over. This decision was highly criticized by commentators because the cost will be supported by public finances.
UPDATE on 31 July 2010
On the 31st July, 8 superstores Carrefour definitively closed their doors as part of the restructuring announced in February 2010.Among the 1092 workers affected, 200 will benefit from early retirement, 400 will eave the company and 492 will be moved to other stores within the company. Up to now 600 jobs have been lost. Sixteen stores have been bought by Mestdagh, that owns a chain of superstores in the south of the country. The transfer will be effective on the 1st October 2010. It is not yet known how many Carrefour workers will remain employed under the new ownership.
Eurofound (2010), Carrefour, Closure in Belgium, factsheet number 70197, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/70197.
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