Activities of Jean-Marc GERMAIN related to 2024/0226(BUD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (application from Belgium – EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch)
Amendments (10)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Belgium submitted application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match- Smatch for a financial contribution from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), following a total number of 513 displacements5 in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 47 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) in the provinces of Hainaut (BE32), Liège (BE33), and Namur (BE35) with 444 displacements within a reference period for the application from 11 December 2023 to 11 April 2024, and 69 displacements before or after the reference period; whereas workers in this region have experienced increased hardship due to lack of sufficient alternatives; whereas employees in the Belgian commerce sector in general find themselves in a precarious situation, brought upon by the broader structural transformations taking place within the industry; _________________ 5 Within the meaning of Article 3 of the EGF Regulation.
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the application relates to 444 displacements within the reference period for the application whose activity has ceased in Match-Smatch; whereas many of these workers have been long- term employees, creating an additional barrier to re-entry into the labour market, with trade unions highlighting that many of these layoffs occurred without sufficient negotiation and without exploring alternative options to retain workers or transition them into new roles;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the application relates to 69 displacements whose activity ceased before or after the reference period of four months, where a clear causal link can be established with the event that triggered the cessations of activity of the displaced workers during the reference period as required by Article 6(2) of the EGF Regulation; whereas trade unions have expressed concerns that these workers were prematurely laid off as part of a larger restructuring that did not adequately consider their welfare, and that little effort was made to mitigate the impact on these vulnerable employees;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the application is based on the intervention criteria of Article 4(2), point (a), of EGF Regulation, which requires the cessation of activity of at least 200 displaced workers over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream producers and/or self-employed persons whose activity has ceased; whereas trade unions point to this as an example of mass layoffs and hyperflexibility becoming more common in the retail sector;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Belgian food retail sector recorded a significant decline in volumes sold in 2023, due to the energy and inflationary crisis, and increased cross- border shopping and e-commerce; whereas trade unions highlight that despite these external challenges, the sector has failed to adequately protect its workers through effective collective agreements and adequate social dialogue;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas to prevent a further accumulation of losses, Match-Smatch accepted the Colruyt Group’s offer to acquire 57 of the 84 stores in September 2023, also taking over the stores' staff (1 069 people); whereas eight additional stores went to Carrefour, Delhaize, Intermarche and Delfood; whereas workers, particularly those in non- acquired stores, have been left uncertain about their future, with trade unions raising alarms about the lack of clear communication and safeguards for workers in the event of store closures and restructuring;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision reduces the maximum annual amount of the EGF from EUR 186 million to EUR 30 million (in 2018 prices), as laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765; whereas all institutions needthe Commission should closely monitor the implementation of the EGF and all institutions should take any and all necessary measures to ensure that, despite these cuts, workers made redundant can count on EU solidarity via support of the EGF;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that half of the Match- Smatch redundant workers (46 %) are aged fifty or older, an age group that faces more barriers to employment and that in the last quarter of 2023, there was a difference of 18,3 percentage points between the employment rate for the 20-54 age group (76,8 %) and the employment rate for the 55+ age group (58,5 %) at national level7 ; stresses that reskilling and upskilling the workers in line with labour-market demand for qualified jobs will thus pose a challenge, all the more considering the large number of people dismissed at the same time; _________________ 7 Statbel. Emploi et chômage (13.6.2024). Chiffres.
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the fact that the co- ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up by Belgium in consultation with targeted beneficiaries, their representatives and the social partners to make the affected areas, and the overall labour market, more sustainable and resilient in the future;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the digital and green transformationConsiders it a social responsibility of the Union to provide these workers made redundant with the necessary qualifications for the digital and green transformation of the Union industry and economy, which will also have an effect on the labour market; calls, therefore, for special attention to be paid to qualified and relevant education, including vocational training;