1,200 jobs to go at telecom operator Proximus by 2030
Telecom operator Proximus will cut 1,200 jobs by 2030, Belga has learned. The losses will mainly come from natural redundancies.
Some 800 people are expected to retire over the next few years and will not be replaced. The company will also rely on voluntary departures and retraining for other jobs within Proximus. There may also be compulsory redundancies, though these would be a minority of the jobs being cut.
In particular, people in “non-crucial positions” will not be replaced. This represents about a third of the total jobs to be lost. It does not include roles such as salespeople and welders, as they are hard to find on the labour market.
Earlier on Friday, Proximus announced in its strategic plans that jobs would disappear in a “controlled and gradual” way, without giving further details. The plans include the company’s intention to “reimagine its way of working and focus on efficiency through simplification and AI, driving workload reductions”.
The downsizing is likely to continue after 2030. Between 2031 and 2035, around 1,400 people will retire. Proximus sees scope for further staff reductions at that time.
"It is important that Proximus is able to reconcile strategic adaptation, social responsibility and the protection of quality jobs"
Proximus is majority state-owned, with the Belgian state holding a 53.51 per cent share. The minister responsible for Public Enterprises, Vanessa Matz of Les Engagés, said in an official response on Friday that the strategy was “part of a transformation that is already under way in response to changing digital habits, increased competition and major investments in fibre and mobile networks”.
The decision not to replace natural departures was made several years ago, she added. “It is important that Proximus is able to reconcile strategic adaptation, social responsibility and the protection of quality jobs.”
Proximus employed around 13,000 people at the end of last year. Earlier this week, fellow telecom operator Telenet announced its intention to cut around 350 jobs, or 10 per cent of its workforce in the next two years.
Proximus CEO Stijn Bijnens and chair of the board of directors Stefaan De Clerck © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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