Eeklo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On 9 November 2024, Eeklo hosted a job fair for 350 Ontex factory workers whose factory closed its doors at the end of December 2024 at Cultuurhuis Herbakker.
Eeklo is organizing a job fair to help workers who lost jobs due to the Ontex factory closing. Around 350 employees lost their jobs when the factory closed in December 2024. The fair was held on November 9, 2024, at the Cultuurhuis Herbakker.
According to organisers, many employers in the region are interested in the job fair. They said that this effort reflects the community’s desire to provide new job opportunities for those affected by the factory’s closure. The city hopes the fair will help workers find new employment soon.
What are the plans for the Ontex site after closure?
City leaders are looking for answers about what will happen to the Ontex site after the factory closes. They want to know which businesses will take over the space. City officials mentioned that this information is important for planning the future of Eeklo and for helping the economy grow.
They mentioned that knowing what companies will come in will allow the city to make changes to roads and transport. This way, they can support new businesses and keep traffic moving well. The city is working hard to help its residents deal with the factory closing and to build a strong economy for the future.
In 2024, Ontex announced it would close its factory in Eeklo, Belgium. This decision affected 338 workers and was a big loss for the town. The closure was part of Ontex’s plan to improve operations. To help the workers, a social plan was created.
Officials mentioned that this plan offered severance pay, retraining, and job support. By the next year, over 100 workers found new jobs, and about 10 moved to another Ontex site in Aalst. They mentioned that this situation showed how important large factories are for small towns like Eeklo.
Ontex announced changes at its Buggenhout factory. The factory will stay open but will become a centre for making incontinence products. They mentioned that this change means 140 workers will lose their jobs.
Ontex wants to focus on making better products and improving technology. Officials said that the Buggenhout site will be important for Ontex’s global work. Even with the job losses, Ontex will help affected workers with retraining and job placement services to find new jobs.
