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 For Transport Equipment Manufacture Of Other Transport Equipment 30.1 - Building of ships and boats
314 - 760 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
8 September 2020
Employment effect (start)
1 January 2021
Foreseen end date
31 December 2021
Description
To cope with the COVID-19 crisis, the ship buliding company Beneteau has announced a vast restructuring project. It plans to close, sell or put on hold five sites out of the 24 it operates worldwide, including three in France. Between 314 and 760 job cuts will take place in France, depending on the results of the negotiations with the social partners. Four out of the 16 plants in the Boat Division will be affected by these measures (one in the United States, one in Slovenia and two in France), while three will see their activity slow down (one in France).
The production operators concerned (300 to 480 people) should avoid forced dismissals if all the employees concerned accept the proposed internal mobility measures. However, this is not the case for the indirect production workforce, design offices and support functions, that is 380 to 460 people.
The housing division (mobile homes) is also affected, with the closure of one site out of eight in France, leading to a reduction in the workforce of 30 to 90 people.
The group has opened negotiations on a long-term partial activity agreement (APLD), and an information-consultation procedure on the envisaged employment safeguard plan (PSE).
Update 1/12/2020: On 1 December, 200 people went on strike to demand a bonus of €5,000, as compensation for a transfer to another site in the Vendée (Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Commequiers, Saint-Hilaire, Yonne). The management only agreed to a bonus of €300 to €700. For the CFDT, these restructurings were already planned before the COVID-19 crisis: reducing the support functions and a reogarnisation of prdoction. Closing factories to refocus tools was an objective that the health crisis may have facilitated.
Eurofound (2020), Bénéteau, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 102906, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/102906.
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