ArcelorMittal’s European works council has sharply criticised the steel giant’s management over plans to relocate hundreds of support roles from European sites to a new service centre in India. This controversial move, reported on 2025-05-14 16:06:00, could affect nearly 30% of current support staff across Europe.
- European council criticizes ArcelorMittal management
- Plans shift 30% support jobs to India
- Council demands transparency on project details
- Concerns rise over European production capacity
- Climate project in Ghent currently on hold
- Council demands formal consultation and information
The council condemns the lack of transparency, highlighting that essential information on costs, benefits, and risks remains undisclosed. The company’s sole justification is wage differences between Europe and India, which the council calls cynical given the values ArcelorMittal claims to uphold.
What does this mean for European steel production and local jobs? And how will this strategy align with broader climate goals? The answers remain unclear as tensions rise.
Is this relocation just a cost-cutting exercise, or part of a deeper strategic shift? The works council fears the latter, suggesting this could be the first step in a wider reduction of European capacity. Key points include:
- Opaque decision-making with no shared data on financial or operational impacts
- Concerns that this move undermines long-established European labour standards and values
- Potential negative effects on Belgium’s steel industry, especially amid stalled green initiatives like the Gent DRI project
As ArcelorMittal faces mounting pressure, will management engage in meaningful dialogue with European representatives? Belgian workers and policymakers must closely monitor developments and demand transparency to safeguard local jobs and sustainable industry progress.
