Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Belgium
Region
Région Wallonne; Prov. Liège; Arr. Liège
Location of affected unit(s)
Seraing
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Basic Metal And Fabricated Metal Products
Manufacture Of Basic Metals
24 - Manufacture of basic metals
European Globalisation Fund (EGF)
Year: 2014, Case number: 12

1,300 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
24 January 2013
Employment effect (start)
30 April 2013
Foreseen end date
31 December 2013

Description

ArcelorMittal, multinational steel manufacturer, announced its intention to cut 1300 jobs in Belgium. It will close 7 of the 12 manufacturing lines at its cold-processing phase in Liege.

The part-closure comes as a consequence of the ongoing global economic crisis, declining demand especially from the automobile sector and a negative economic outlook, according to the company.

The Renault procedure was launched. It is reported that the unions see this development as a ‘social drama for Belgium’ and will aim to reduce the number of redundancies. Moreover, national and regional governments are working on alternative solutions for the plant. This is not first major internal restructuring at ArcelorMittal: 1700 jobs were cut in 2009 (13163) and another 700 in 2012 (19093). 

As reported, Belgium has applied for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).


Sources

  • 24 January 2013: Le Soir
  • 24 January 2013: The New York Times
  • 24 January 2013: La DH

Citation

Eurofound (2013), ArcelorMittal, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 74822, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/74822.