More economic unemployment due to energy crisis

This is the case, for example, in the metal sector. Also at Vesuvius in Ostend, a company that produces ceramic parts for the steel industry, the kilns are not running at full speed. Johannes Haandrikman, CEO Vesuvius Oostende: “We have 50% less production. We are in the regime of temporary unemployment. That is currently one week out of two, which is a completely different organization from normal production. I do not foresee any improvement in the coming months , energy costs will only increase, winter is just around the corner.”

The heavy ovens consume a lot of natural gas. Vesuvius’ energy bill has quadrupled, and customers, such as the Arcelor Mittal Steel Plant, are also putting the brakes on. “They have had costs that have increased elevenfold in recent months. And they foresee that it will be 15 times more expensive to produce products by the end of this year. The energy costs are still 50 percent of the production costs. We feel a strong tendency to reduce .”

Engine sputters

Shutting down the factory completely is not an option here. But the engine is sputtering at more West Flemish metal companies. “Today we see economic unemployment for the first time in years. More are added every week. Two weeks ago I had a company in Lichtervelde that had no economic unemployment for many years. Today there is a department that stamps one day a week , another one week in four.”

Workers lose part of their income, more than during corona. Yves Allewaert, ABVV Metaal West-Vlaanderen: “The corona force majeure was more advantageous and easier for the employee: the benefits were higher and there were few administrative obligations.

In addition to the very expensive energy costs, many companies also struggle with the delayed delivery of parts.