Assistance for 267 Belgian Workers After Tupperware Bankruptcy

Summary of the European Commission’s proposal to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for Belgium

• Purpose of the EGF
  The fund supports workers who lose jobs because of large‑scale restructuring or bankruptcy, helping them find new employment quickly.

• Belgium’s application

• Application number: EGF/2025/004 BE/Tupperware
• Submitted: 28 August 2025 by the Belgian government.
• Company affected: Tupperware General Services NV in East Flanders (NUTS 2 code BE23).
• Sector: Manufacture of rubber and plastic products (NACE division 22).
• Reference period for the job losses: 17 Feb 2025 – 17 Jun 2025.
• Number of displaced workers: 267 (all eligible for support).
• The company was declared bankrupt on 17 Feb 2025 after its parent company revoked its licences.

• Assessment by the Commission

• The application met the intervention criteria: at least 200 workers lost jobs in a four‑month period.
• The Commission acknowledged the application on the same day it was received.
• Additional information was requested on 10 Oct 2025 and supplied within 15 working days.
• The Commission had until 21 Jan 2026 to finish its assessment (50 working days from receipt of the complete application).

• Proposed support package

• Total cost of the package: €1 909 000.
• Personalised services: €1 843 500 (96.6 % of total).
• Administrative, management, publicity and reporting: €65 500 (3.4 %).
• The EGF would cover 85 % of the total cost: €1 622 650.
• Measures include:

• Taskforce of account managers and consultants.
• Outplacement and job‑search coaching.
• Digital skills training for those lacking ICT knowledge.
• Assistance with CVs, cover letters and interview preparation.
• Job‑fair and job‑matching events.
• On‑the‑job training at employers who hire the workers.

• All 267 workers are expected to participate.
• The package is designed to complement, not replace, national social‑security measures.

• Funding and implementation

• The Belgian agency VDAB will manage the funds and make payments.
• The Flemish Audit Authority will audit the use of the money.
• Belgium guarantees that the EGF contribution will not duplicate other EU or national funding.
• Expenditure on the services will be eligible for EGF support from 17 Feb 2025 until 24 months after the decision takes effect.
• Administrative costs will be eligible until 31 months after the decision.

• Decision proposal

• The European Parliament and the Council are asked to adopt a decision that mobilises €1 622 650 from the EGF for the 2026 EU budget.
• The decision would enter into force on the day it is published in the Official Journal and apply from the date of adoption.
• The EGF’s annual ceiling is €30 million (in 2018 prices), so this allocation is well within the limit.

• Key dates

• Application submitted: 28 Aug 2025.
• Assessment deadline: 21 Jan 2026.
• Proposed decision adoption: 20 Jan 2026 (publication date to be inserted).

This proposal aims to provide rapid, targeted support to 267 displaced workers in Belgium, helping them re‑enter the labour market while ensuring compliance with EU and national rules and avoiding double‑financing.