That has long been the plan. But now Audi has set a date for when one of Belgium's last two car factories will close completely. It will happen in February.
Audi has decided to close one of its last car factories in Belgium. The factory in Brussels, which employs approximately 3,000 people, will close at the end of February.
The decision means a significant loss of jobs and has created unrest among employees.
According to Audi, it has not been possible to find a buyer for the factory, which has long been challenged. As early as November, employees were informed that a closure was likely as negotiations over the factory's future ran into difficulties.
“The decision to close the factory is painful,” Gerd Walker, a member of Audi AG’s board of directors and responsible for production in Belgium, told Reuters .
He described the closure as one of the most difficult decisions of his career.
A social plan to help the laid-off people move on was presented in November, but no agreement was reached between management and the unions.
The plan included, among other things, closing bonuses and early retirement options. However, employee representatives rejected the latest proposal. Audi management then decided to present the offers directly to employees.
“We believe that employees will see the value in our offers and choose to accept them,” he added. “In addition to the statutory severance pay, employees will receive additional bonuses, depending on seniority,” says Peter D'hoore, spokesman for Audi Brussels.
An employee with 17 years of employment can receive up to approximately 1.27 million kroner in total compensation, depending on position and salary.
The unions have criticized the process, calling it a breach of trust. According to Jan Baetens from the ACV Metea union, the union's proposal was rejected by Audi.
This has created frustration among employees. At the same time, management has condemned individual employee protests that have been described as violent.
The closure of the factory marks the end of a long history for Audi in Brussels. The factory was previously one of the city's most important workplaces, and the decision leaves Belgium with only one car factory. Namely, the one belonging to Chinese Volvo.
