The restructuring plan of Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis could result in 170 job losses, including temporary positions. The news comes after a year of mass layoffs in Belgium, with job losses reaching a record high of over 27,000 in the country.
Unions say this is not the first restructuring at the Puurs site (Antwerp province), which they describe as an "annual tradition". In 2022, Novartis announced a significant global restructuring, but only a few dozen jobs were lost in Flanders. At the time, Belgian unions criticised the "poor management" and noted it was the "third restructuring in five years".
On Wednesday, Novartis stated its aim to make the Puurs production site more competitive and meet evolving production needs. The company plans to invest €40 million towards these goals by 2025.
This investment will primarily enhance the site's expertise in producing Novartis' medicines and developing products for other companies. The union ACV-CSC noted that the Puurs site has long been a leader in its field, particularly due to Alcon, a former Novartis subsidiary that specialised in eye surgery kits before becoming a stand-alone company in 2019.
However, the Puurs site must adapt to declining volumes in the ophthalmic product portfolio and reduced efficiency from external factors, said a Novartis spokesperson. These issues are increasing unit costs.
Unions and management began the mandatory information and consultation phase on Wednesday in line with Belgium's Renault law on collective redundancies.
Approximately 1,160 people work at the Puurs site. Novartis employs a total of 1,750 workers across Belgium.
