Parliament backs €1.6 million to help former workers of Carrefour Belgium
- Redundancies in Carrefour retail stores due to increasing competition from online sellers outside the EU
- 67% of Belgian consumers shopped online in 2018 – up from 46% in 2012
Four hundred Wallonian workers dismissed by the Carrefour supermarket chain should receive EU aid worth €1,632,028 to help find new jobs, MEPs decided on Thursday.
The measure, co-financed by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) would help the 400 workers find new jobs by providing them with career guidance, job training, entrepreneurship advice and contributions towards business start-up.
In addition, the measure will also provide support for up to 330 unemployed young people who are under the age of 25 and are not currently enrolled in education or training.
The total estimated funding amounts to €2.7 million, of which the EGF would provide 60% (€1.6 million).
The draft report by José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, PT), recommending that Parliament approve the aid, was passed by 558 votes to 63, and 43 abstentions.
Next steps
To take effect, the aid has yet to be approved by the Council, which is still discussing it, as not all member states have agreed on the measure up to now.
Background
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) contributes to packages of tailor-made services to help redundant workers find new jobs. Its annual ceiling is €150 million.
According to the Belgian Federation for Commerce and Services, 67% of Belgian consumers shopped online in 2018 – up from 46% in 2012. Overall, 39% of consumers say they will shop more online in 2019 than in the previous year. More information in the Commission proposal.
