Type
Offshoring/Delocalisation
Country
Belgium
Region
Vlaams Gewest; Prov. Antwerpen; Arr. Mechelen
Location of affected unit(s)
Mechelen
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Chemicals And Pharamceuticals
Manufacture Of Chemicals And Chemical Products
20.3 - Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics
New offshoring locations
Germany

276 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
4 May 2018
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

US-headquartered, multinational paint and coatings producer Axalta Coating Systems has announced the dismissal of 276 employees at their facility in Mechelen. The production unit of the facility will be closed and relocated to other facilities abroad, with a German subsidiary in Wuppertal one specified destination. The employees affected by the plans are therefore mainly blue collar workers. It is not the first time the facility in Mechelen has been affected by restructurings, in 2015 70 employees were dismissed because of the relocation of activities to Germany. In February and March there were strikes in the facility because of continued uncertainty among employees. Trade unions have announced no further concrete strike plans.  They will soon negotiate with the company management to try and reduce the number of announced dismissals.


Sources

  • 4 May 2018: Het Nieuwsblad
  • 4 May 2018: De Standaard

Citation

Eurofound (2018), Axalta, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Belgium, factsheet number 93974, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/93974.