174 jobs on the slope at carpet producer Beaulieu: the company wants to stop production of tufted carpet in Belgium

It concerns a restructuring of the Ideal location on the Boffonstraat in Wielsbeke. 133 people from IDEAL Floorcoverings and 41 employees, their jobs are at stake. According to Beaulieu, the measure is necessary due to rising energy prices, outdated machinery and declining demand for tufted carpet.

Business Unit Beaulieu Flooring Solutions Business Unit announced its intention at a special works council. “If the intention is confirmed, a total of 174 employees would be involved.”

Employees surprised

Reinhilde Rommens of ACV Metea about the collective redundancy: “This really comes as a surprise to the employees. There had been no restructuring at Ideal Floor Coverings before. It was still thought that the market for tufted carpet was still large enough.”

Nevertheless, Beaulieu had already been restructuring for 15 years, as a result of which some of the employees who are now at Ideal were previously employed elsewhere.

On Friday, the union will meet with the company to see how many employees can go elsewhere in the company, who is entitled to SWT (former early retirement pension, ed.) and what is in return if someone decides to resign. Monday morning there is a staff meeting.