Nike is to recruit 539 staff in Belgium in to cope with the growth in its operations, the business announced on Tuesday, confirming a communication issued by the trade union BBTK (SETCa). The American brand has four distribution centres in Belgium. Construction of a store is currently underway at Ham (in Limbourg) where there will be at least 220 permanent positions. The store is due to open in mid-2016.
Nike has three distribution centres on the border of Lanaken and Ham, and a fourth at Herentals for distribution of its sports items destined for Western, Eastern and Central Europe.
Amongst the new recruits, 430 will be employed and specifically assigned to receiving, packaging and loading the products from the famous “Swoosh” range. Amongst other roles, the company is also looking for 40 shop managers. Approximately 200 of the new roles will be given to the 600 temporary workers currently employed at Nike in Belgium.
The socialist trade union is looking forward to these positive prospects in a region which has recently been affected by significant job losses at Ford Genk, Heinz and Philips. “In 1994, the American brand Nike employed 199 individuals in Belgium. In 2016 this total will reach around 2,900 permanent contracts” stresses the Secretary of the Socialist trade union Stan Hens. The business will start its recruitment procedures on www.thejourneyisyours.be on Wednesday.
(Source: Belga)
