Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2025/004 BE/Tupperware - Belgium

The European Parliament adopted by 562 votes to 53, with 19 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 Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2025/004 BE/Tupperware.

Parliament approved the proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF to provide a financial contribution of EUR 1 622 650 in commitment and payment appropriations to the Union budget for the financial year 2026 in respect of workers’ displacements in Tupperware General Services NV in Belgium.

This contribution represents 85% of the total cost of EUR 1 909 000, comprising expenditure for personalised services of EUR 1 843 500 and expenditure for preparatory, management, information and publicity, control and reporting activities of EUR 65 500.

Events leading to the displacements

Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/004 BE/Tupperware for a financial contribution from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) following 267 displacements in Tupperware General Services NV (Tupperware), in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 22 (Manufacture of rubber and plastic products) in the province of East-Flanders (BE23), within a reference period from 17 February 2025 to 17 June 2025.

Parliament deplored that the American parent corporation Tupperware Brands was taken over by creditors in October 2024 and, due to a significant restructuring, revoked the manufacturing and licences granted to Tupperware General Services NV, rendering the Belgian subsidiary financially inviable and leading to its bankruptcy on 17 February 2025. The initiative by a group of European entrepreneurs aiming to revive the brand in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Poland was welcomed.

Beneficiaries

The application concerns 267 targeted beneficiaries made redundant in Tupperware. Tupperware was located in Aalst in the Province of East Flanders where the risk of unemployment is more than double for people with a low level of education. One third of the displaced workers have no more than a lower secondary education level. Members called on Belgian authorities to provide specific support tailored to these profiles to help workers overcome their shortcomings and find new jobs, while taking measures to reduce bankruptcies and address social disparities leading to exclusion of work force.

Personalised services

Members welcomed the fact that the personalised services to be provided to workers include the following measures: information sessions for reintegration into employment, outplacement services, including ICT training; assistance in finding a job through guidance and job-search assistance, training and retraining, job fair, job-scouting and job-matching; emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience. Members called on Belgium to establish a dialogue with the new European Tupperware representatives to explore possibilities for reintegration of displaced workers in their economic activities.

The resolution noted that Belgium started providing personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries on 17 February 2025 and that the period of eligibility for a financial contribution from the EGF will therefore be from that date until 24 months after the date of the entry into force of the financing decision. It also highlighted that the Belgian authorities provided assurance that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation, and that any double financing will be prevented.

The Belgian authorities are required to report the origin of Union funding and ensure its visibility, as well as to highlight the added value of Union intervention.

Lastly, Parliament reiterated that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements.