Belgium: controversies around the “generosity” of Opel’s redundancy plan

With bonuses up to 144.000 euros and early retirement from 50 years old on, the social plan adopted on July 1, 2007 for the restructuring of Opel's Anvers site is criticized because it does not respect the interprofessional agreement on the "Pact solidarity between generations" aiming at maintaining people at work longer, and risks to discourage foreign investors from settling in Belgium. (Ref. 070617)
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The comments of the Flemish Christian-Democrat deputy Peter Leyman (CD&V), who ran Volvo’s site in Gand – that the agreement passed between the management and trade unions from Opel’s site in Anvers was “almost immoral” – threw social partners into turmoil. Indeed, this agreement plans early leaves (pre-pensions) from 50 years old on with between 82 and 89% of the last net salary and voluntary leave bonuses going as high as 144.000 gross euros for 750 out of the 1.079 employees whose job is cut

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