Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the manufacturing of machinery in Belgium

The European Parliament adopted by 551 votes to 76, with 16 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR 1 222 854 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Belgium affected by redundancies in the manufacturing of machinery sector.

Parliament recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

Belgian application: Belgium submitted application EGF/2014/011 BE/Caterpillar for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 1030 redundancies in Caterpillar Belgium S.A. a company operating in the NACE 2 Division 28 'Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c', with 630 persons expected to participate in the measures, during and after the reference period from 1 January 2014 to 30 April 2014, linked to a decline in demand in Europe. Members noted that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation are met.

Therefore, Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation.

Parliament welcomed the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Belgian authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 1 April 2014, well ahead of the decision and even the application on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package.

Nature of the redundancies: Parliament regretted that many of the unemployed persons in the Charleroi region are low skilled (59% do not have upper secondary education) and that 43% have been unemployed for more than 2 years. It also regretted that the employment rate in Charleroi is among the lowest in the Wallonia region at 52.26%. Members stated that the redundancies at Caterpillar are expected to have huge negative impacts on the Charleroi region, which is facing a very difficult labour market situation due to its over-reliance on traditional industrial employment and lack of new industries. The resolution pointed out that the low qualification level of the workers made redundant makes it difficult for them to find a new job in an adverse economic context. It noted that 18% of the targeted redundant workers expected to participate in the measures are threatened by labour market exclusion as they are part of the 55-64 age group.

Parliament advocated the future use of the provisions of the EGF Regulation to support young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in this region.

A package of personalised services: Parliament noted that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded covers three main areas: redeployment, training and retraining and promotion of entrepreneurship. It noted that more than half of the total estimated costs are to be spent on redeployment services, namely support, guidance and integration measures. Members stated that these services will be provided by FOREM (the public employment and training service of the Walloon Region), which acts as an intermediary body in the implementation of this application.

It recalled the importance of improving the employability of all workers by means of adapted training and the recognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's professional career and expected the training on offer in the coordinated package to be adapted not only to the needs of the dismissed workers but also to the actual business environment.

Members also stressed that EGF assistance can co-finance only active labour market measures which lead to durable, long-term employment.

Lastly, Parliament welcomed that financial support from the European Social Fund was in the past awarded to a project (En Train – En Transition-Reconversion-Accompagnement) which aimed to develop pedagogical methods for Redeployment Units in general and that the findings of this project are likely to prove useful in the implementation of the planned measures.