Type
Closure
Country
France
Region
Centre-Est; Rhône-Alpes; Rhône
Location of affected unit(s)
Arnas
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Wood And Paper Materials
Manufacture Of Paper And Paper Products
17 - Manufacture of paper and paper products

187 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
1 June 2011
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

On 1 June 2011, the Belgian group Ontex, a producer of hygienic disposable products, announced the closure of its plant in Arnas (Rhône) and the loss of 187 jobs.

The management announced its plan at an extraordinary meeting of the company's works council and established a psychological unit to support employees under pressure. Following the announcement the works council members decided to cease operations at the site due to work-related injuries possibly due to lack of concentration.

According to the management, Ontex has to counter "global overcapacity" linked to a decrease in sales of nappies, strong competition from major brands within the sector, higher costs of raw materials. Production activities could be moved to the Czech Republic and Germany.

With a total workforce of 4,250 employees, Ontex operates nine plants in the EU and another three in other non-EU countries (Algeria, China, and Turkey).


Sources

  • 1 June 2011: Le Parisien
  • 28 May 2011: Le Progrès

Citation

Eurofound (2011), Ontex, Closure in France, factsheet number 72040, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72040.