Belgium: Engie Electrabel offers bonus equal to one year’s pay to avoid staff departures

On 7 December, Belgian energy company Engie Electrabel presented its plan for retaining the 2,000 workers at its Doel and Tihange power stations, according to the press agency Belga. The firm announced in 17 November 2020 that its seven Belgian nuclear sites would cease operations by 2025, however a decision on whether its most recent reactors will continue is yet to be formalised. According to Vincent Franco, a Gazelco trade union delegate at the Tihange site, Engie Electrabel has made it known that the group reserves the right to say no to an extension of operations if it is not for a minimum of 10 years, so as to ensure a return on investment. The Belgian government has given itself until the end of the year to make its decision. Amid fears its employees could depart before the closure to retrain for other industries, Engie is offering staff on permanent contracts a job guarantee until the end of 2027, two years later than the planned shutdown of the seven nuclear reactors. For employees aged 45 or over (half of the workforce), the company is guaranteeing job security until the end of their career. Finally, for those who plan to leave in any case, Engie is offering a bonus equivalent to one year’s gross annual salary if they commit to staying on until July 2026. A budget of €18 million has also been set aside for staff training. The proposal will only be validated once the federal government has confirmed that nuclear power will be phased out by the end of 2025.