Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 12

AddedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

AddedI. Background

AddedThe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was created to provide additional assistance to workers suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns.

AddedIn accordance with point 9 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020, the Commission is required, following the positive assessment of an application, to submit a proposal to mobilise the Fund to the budgetary authority and to complement it with a corresponding request for transfer to the relevant budget lines.

AddedII. Belgium’s application and the Commission's proposal

AddedOn 28 August 2025 Belgium submitted an application EGF/2025/004 BE/Tupperware for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 267 redundancies at Tupperware. This is the fourth such application of 2025, and the second to be examined under the 2026 budget.

AddedFollowing the assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.

AddedOn 20 January 2026, the Commission adopted a proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the EGF in favour of Belgium for tailored measures to support the reintegration in the labour market of 267 targeted beneficiaries, i.e. workers from Tupperware made redundant. In total, EUR 1 622 650 will be mobilised from the EGF for Tupperware, representing 85% of the total costs of the proposed actions.

AddedThe Commission deemed the Belgian application admissible under the intervention criteria of Article 4(2) (a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires the cessation of activity of at least 200 displaced workers or self-employed persons over a reference period of four months, in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream.

AddedEGF co-funding has been requested for the following nine types of actions, to be provided to redundant workers:

Added(a) Taskforce: Account managers with in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, and consultants experienced in providing guidance in collective redundancies processes, will organise and run the information sessions, define together with the workers personalised paths for reintegration into employment and re-adjust them, if need be. The taskforce has the support of a team of experts in European projects.

Added(b) Outplacement: Outplacement services provided in group or individual sessions include, among other things, an initial interview and individual guidance, certification of acquired skills, guidance on using the VDAB's "My Career" (Mijn Loopbaan) digital platform for job searching, as well as guidance before, during, and after the job fair described below.

AddedDigitally illiterates will receive basic ICT training and additional support through digibanks, where workers can borrow a laptop, receive training on how to use it and get answers to their digital questions. Webinars and other online tools, such as 123digit.be, will help those who already have some digital skills to improve them.

Added(c) Assistance in finding a job: The assistance begins with sessions to assess whether jobseekers meet labour market demands and whether their job search is realistic. Subsequently, workers receive support focused on preparing them for future job applications, helping them write compelling resumes and cover letters, strengthening their self-confidence, and practising how to perform successfully in job interviews.

Added(d) Guidance: The orientation services include guidance, search for job openings and job placement (that is connecting job seekers with suitable employment opportunities by matching candidates' skills and goals with employers' needs), digital skills assessment, help with individual job search using digital tools, and mental support. These services are provided through a voucher scheme to ensure workers’ freedom of choice. VDAB counsellors, after assessing the workers’ individual needs, set the intensity of the service to be received that ranges between intensive and very intensive.

Added(e) Reinforced job-search assistance: This comprises individual and collective coaching sessions with a vocational mediator, support to apply and prepare job interviews, peer-to-peer coaching, and visits to enterprises with recruiting needs.

Added(f) Training and retraining: Workers are coached in specific learning paths designed to improve their technical and digital skills, and to develop skills related to areas experiencing labour shortages or to the green transition. Upon agreement of individual projects with the vocational counsellor, workers will be offered targeted training to cater for the identified needs. They will also have access to a wide range of training, including those provided by VDAB or by training providers.

Added(g) Training at the workplace: Workers receive on-the-job training at the enterprise that will employ them after training. The employment contract is either permanent or fixed term for at least the same duration as the training.

Added(h) Job fair: This recruitment event helps put together jobseekers and employers that seek to fill their vacancies. Before attending the event, counselling sessions help to prepare the meeting with potential employers. The event took place in Aalst in June 2025.

Added(i) Job-scouting and job-matching: A dedicated team will scout out for job vacancies before they are posted and help suitable candidates among former Tupperware workers apply for these positions. Job-search events will be organised at VDAB premises quarterly. The events enable participants to interact with local and regional employers, explore job openings, and understand entry pathways.

AddedIII. Procedure

AddedIn order to mobilise the Fund, the Commission has submitted to the Budgetary Authority a request to transfer a global amount of EUR 1 622 650 from the EGF reserve (budget line 30 04 02; commitment appropriations) to the EGF (budget line 16 02 02; commitment appropriations).

AddedAccording to an internal agreement within the Parliament, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the Committee on Regional Development should be associated to the process, in order to provide constructive support and contribute to the assessment of the applications from the Fund.