Gits (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Voestalpine Sadef in Gits, employing 650 people, including 50 from customisation companies, becomes the Flemish custom workshops ambassador. Groep Maatwerk and Minister Hilde Crevits support initiatives creating 1,000 inclusive jobs.
As VRT News reported, a steel company in Gits, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, Vostalpine Sade, will act as a year-long ambassador for Flemish custom workshops. CEO Peter Verbrugge said the collaboration is more than symbolic.
“Out of our 650 employees, 50 come from different customisation companies,”
he said.
“They are at our company every day and fully part of the production process. These workers can perform certain tasks with high skill and efficiency. Their work improves both the quality and speed of production.”
What role will Voestalpine Sadef play in creating 26,000 jobs for Flemish workers?
In Flanders, around 26,000 people work in sheltered workshops. These workshops provide jobs for people with disabilities or reduced work capacity. Francis Devisch from Groep Maatwerk said the benefits go beyond income.
“Workers gain structure, routine, and social contact, which are very important for them,”
he said.
He added that strong cooperation with regular companies is necessary. Partnerships like the one with Vostalpine Sade allow workers to gain experience and be part of a team. At the same time, companies benefit from their skills.
According to officials, before a company can become an ambassador for Flemish custom workshops, it must meet clear requirements. The company must have a long history of working with customisation companies. It must also be willing to openly share its experiences.
Francis Devisch of Groep Maatwerk said transparency is key.
“A company that tells other companies how satisfied it is with this collaboration provides the best advertisement for us,”
he said.
Flemish Minister of Social Economy Hilde Crevits (CD&V) called on more companies to collaborate with customised services.
“Research by KU Leuven and Deloitte shows that this collaboration leads to more opportunities, more innovation, and more inclusion. That’s why we want to create 1,000 additional positions in collective customised services by the end of this term.”
Voestalpine Sadef is a steel company based in Gits, Belgium. The company was founded in 1942 and specialises in producing custom-made steel profiles. In 1991, the Austrian group Voestalpine acquired Sadef, marking its first major international purchase. Over the years, the company has grown into a key player in the steel industry. It now serves sectors such as construction, automotive, and renewable energy.
Groep Maatwerk is the main organisation for Flemish sheltered workshops. It started in 1980 in Antwerp under the name VLAB, the Flemish Federation of Sheltered Workshops. The group represents workshops that provide adapted work for people with disabilities or reduced work capacity.
By 2020, Groep Maatwerk supported 64 member organisations, employing nearly 26,000 workers across Flanders. The organisation works to promote inclusive employment and advises companies on how to integrate people from sheltered workshops into their workforce.
