On Friday, the European Commission proposed the granting of €4.6 million to Belgium, with a view to assisting former Caterpillar workers and the company’s former subcontractors in finding a job. The announcement came from the European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Marianne Thyssen. The sum, from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, is likely to enable nearly 2,300 people made redundant by Caterpillar, and several of its suppliers, to find a new job.
The Belgian Commissioner commented, “Since the announcement of the closure of Caterpillar’s Gosselies site in 2016, we acted without delay to assist national and Walloon authorities to mitigate, as far as possible, the disastrous consequences of this closure for the numerous workers made redundant. We have thus provided guidance in obtaining funding from available European means. Such sources have included the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.”
She went on, “We should demonstrate solidarity in such difficult times, so as to ensure that nobody is, in any way, left behind.”
The total cost of these measures is estimated at €7.7 million, €4.6 million will come from the EU, the balance provided by Wallonia. The proposal will now go before the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers for approval.
The Brussels Times
