Sports chain Decathlon to end logistics activities in Willebroek: 132 jobs to be axed

Management revealed its plans for the Willebroek depot during a digital works council at 10:30 a.m. this morning. No precise plans had been communicated in advance, but the unions feared the worst.

These fears turned out to be justified. The sports chain has made it known that it wants to end its logistics activities in Willebroek by the end of 2024.

According to the chain 163 people currently work at the Willebroek depot.

If the logistics activities are discontinued, only the 31 people in the team doing repairs, rentals and maintenance will be able to keep their jobs. The remaining 132 jobs will be axed.

“Tailor-made solution for affected workers”

In a press release, Decathlon promises to ensure the continued employment of all affected employees. "As a responsible company, we are committed to proposing a solution to every employee," the company states. Affected employees will be given priority for vacancies at the sports chain's stores, where no jobs are disappearing.

"We believe we can guide all our employees to a new job," says Louise Chekroun, country leader at Decathlon Belgium. "We are convinced that we can find an individual solution for each one of them within our own existing network. Think of our 33 stores, our repair services, our customer services, etc. There are also opportunities in our international logistics network. This is where our energy will go during the coming period."

Decathlon's individual approach in which a tailor-made solution is sought for every affected employee can count on little understanding from the unions. They are insisting on collective bargaining to ensure that workers' rights cannot be violated.

Depots in France, Spain and Italy are also reportedly closing. The sports chain says it wants to transform its "European logistics network of distribution warehouses to better meet the changing needs of its customers."

A new works council will take place on Thursday.

Unions fears were justified

The unions have been worried for some time. "We have been on strike to get more clarity about the future of the depot," said a union official. "We had long noticed that sustainable employment was being phased out and replaced by more precarious contracts like student labour and fixed-term contracts. In addition, e-commerce activities were being phased out while the demand for e-commerce was increasing."

Erika Lambert of the Christian union ACV Puls complained that the union secretaries had not received an invitation to the special works council, which, moreover, was only conducted digitally. "Decathlon is once again violating Belgian law," she says.