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.
Manufacturing Manufacture Of Rubber And Plastic Products And Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacture Of Rubber And Plastic Products 22 - Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
83 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
14 December 2011
Employment effect (start)
31 December 2011
Foreseen end date
31 December 2012
Description
Plastic-manufacturer Vitalo, member of the Vitalo Group, has announced the dismissal of 83 people at its site of Meulebeke, in Flanders. The company, which currently employs 250 workers in Belgium, will cut the jobs of about 38 blue-collar and 45 white-collar workers.
According to the management, there are several reasons for the restructuring: The increase of raw materials' costs, the decision of many customers to stock up in countries where they can find the same product in lower price and finally the economic crisis.
The unions are reported to be surprised by the layoffs. The unions' representative will meet the management to discuss the future of the company and develop solutions for the 83 discharged people. In the next days, social partners will possibly start the ‘Renault procedure' which defines a period of two months in the course of which trade unions and the employer discuss every aspect of a restructuring plan.
Vitalo works on a variety of plastic solutions for industries such as interior trim panels, exterior body panels, roofs for agricultural tractors and construction machines and compression formed headliners amongst others.
The company employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide.
Sources
14 December 2011: De Standaard
14 December 2011: Het Nieuwsblad
14 December 2011: L'Echo
Citation
Eurofound (2011), Vitalo, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 72875, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72875.
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