Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Belgium
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Turnhout, Kontich, Bruxelles and Wommelgem
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Computer, Electrical Electronic And Optical Products
Manufacture Of Electrical Equipment
27.4 - Manufacture of electric lighting equipment

480 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
5 November 2012
Employment effect (start)
1 January 2013
Foreseen end date
1 June 2013

Description

Philips announced its intention to cut a further 354 jobs in the Turnhout plant, part of the company’s lighting division. These cuts come as an addition to the 136 redundancies that were announced 6 months earlier. According to the unions 354 jobs are currently affected by the company’s restructuring plan. Moreover, further jobs will be lost in Kontich (65), in Brussels (41) and in Wommelgem (20). In total, 480 jobs will be cut in Belgium.

The unions also criticized the bad strategic management of the company. Following the announcement via its Works Council, workers and representatives went on an unplanned half-day strike.

According to the management, the decision was necessary in order to go ahead with organizational changes to remain competitive. They stressed that the fast-paced market is putting pressure on them, as their Asian competitors provide cheaper LED products.

Philips has also dismissed 171 employees at the lighting division headquarters in Eindhoven, and plans to reduce its worldwide workforce by 2200 (see here). 


Sources

  • 5 November 2012: Le Soir
  • 5 November 2012: rtl.be
  • 5 November 2012: De Morgen
  • 20 November 2012: L'Echo

Citation

Eurofound (2012), Philips, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 74432, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/74432.