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.
Machelen (Brussels), Antwerp, Zwijndrecht, Meerhout and others
Sector
Manufacturing Manufacture Of Coke And Refined Petroleum Products Manufacture Of Coke And Refined Petroleum Products 19.2 - Manufacture of refined petroleum products
150 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
7 October 2020
Employment effect (start)
31 October 2020
Foreseen end date
Description
Exxonmobil, an international oil company, has stated its intention to dismiss 320 employees in its Belgian facilities by by the end of 2021, approximately 230 in a first phase. The unit most affected are at Machelen near Brussels - the company's national headquarters as well as European Technology Centre. The company management states it will try to reduce the amount of direct dismissals as much as possible but cannot prevent all of them. According to the company press release, the COVID-19 crisis has struck the petrochemical industry significantly. Local trade unions are not surprised by the decision to dismiss a number of employees but did not expect so many people to lose their jobs. They will attempt to limit job losses in their negotiations with the company during the information and consultation phase. Exxonmobil employs some 2,400 employees in Belgium. It has announced also that it will shed 1,600 jobs across its European units by the end of the year.
Update 09/04/2021: After long negotiations, a social plan with regards to the announced retructurings has been agreed by the company and trade unions. The number of job cuts in the headquarters in Diegem has been revised to 150, which is significantly less than the initial 320 that were announced. The social plan includes a voluntary redundancy scheme, an early retirement scheme, and the forced layoffs. Trade unions revealed that the social plan would last unil the end of 2021, without room for further negotiations.
Eurofound (2020), Exxonmobil, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 101968, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101968.
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