One year after the bankruptcy with bus builder Van Hool, more than 1,756 former employees have found other work. “More than three in four people are working. That is a high number, but the work is not yet finished,” say Tom Laveren (Voka Mechelen-Kempen) and Bjorn Cuyt (VDAB Province of Antwerp).
“1756 former employees who are already working: that is certainly a high number. But we are aiming higher. We don’t let anyone go. We have expressed that commitment together,” says Tom Laveren, managing director of Voka Mechelen-Kempen. “We have been working together in this file for a year. With VDAB, the trade unions, Agoria and Mtech+. And we will continue to do that.”
457 former employees are not yet back to work. “We are working with those people. But there are several reasons for them to have no other work today,” says Bjorn Cuyt, director of VDAB Province of Antwerp.
1756 former employees who are already working: that is certainly a high number. But we are aiming higher. We don’t let anyone go
Tom Bet
Managing director of Voka Mechelen-Kempen
Course
“4 percent of them are sick for a long time. Another 4 percent or 96 people are not at work, but have also not applied for benefits. Those people may have a partner who provides an income or do not want to work for another reason. But there are also people in a training. Being confronted with a bankruptcy makes people think. Almost 150 former employees have followed the next month and his-employees have and and the employees have been and and have been and for the next-to-have and-employees. Weeks Plan with Mtech+ how we can do a customized group.
At the end of May last year, VDAB, Voka Mechelen -Kempen, Agoria and Mtech+ – based on the bankruptcy – organized a job fair. It grew into the largest in Flanders. With 300 companies present and 1,500 visitors.
Moker
“The work is not yet ready. Before our labor market, the bankruptcy has been a Mokerslag. In the whole of 2024 we lost 3,186 jobs in the district of Mechelen-to which Lier belongs. That is the highest number in 25 years. And almost as much as the four previous years together,” says Wim Brillouet, director of interests.
“The impact of Van Hool is not to be underestimated, but even without Van Hool we speak of a negative record. From day 1 we have warned that the impact would be wider than Van Hool. A study by KPMG has shown that until 973 jobs were threatened with the suppliers of Van Hool. On top of that there is no more dismissal at Van Hool, and there is no more dismissal at Van Hool. In the danger zone, those problems are not in the industry. “
The work is not ready yet. For our labor market, the bankruptcy has been a smoker report
Wim Brillouet
Director of advocacy of Voka Mechelen-Kempen
Support card
Voka Mechelen-Kempen makes a call to the Flemish, federal and European policy makers. For an urgent update of the regional support card. The European Commission approves that card. Large companies – and not just SMEs – can then request targeted investment support. “25 Flemish municipalities are currently included on this regional support card. But none in our region,” says Tom Laveren of Voka. “By 2027 – when there is an update – it must be different. As a result of the economic blow, our region must be eligible.”