Sibelco announce organizational realignment

Up to 600 jobs under threat in plan to enhance company’s global productivity and competitiveness

SIBELCO have announced plans to align their support functions more closely with their operational structure and to increase global productivity, in a move that could lead to up to 600 redundancies globally by the end of 2022.

The proposed changes are said to support Sibelco’s new vision and strategy which sets out a transformational path to improve operational, commercial, and financial performance by 2025, and a clear commitment to sustainability.

Sibelco say they will seek to keep the number of redundancies to a minimum and will actively support internal mobility to retain employees where possible.

Starting this week, the company has entered into dialogue with the European Works Council, local works councils, social partners, and employee representatives, as applicable in various countries in accordance with local applicable laws.

Commenting on the plans, Sibelco’s chief executive officer, Hilmar Rode, said the proposals were a necessary step to ensure Sibelco’s competitive position and potential for future growth.

‘The industrial minerals sector is characterized by intense competition and increasing costs and, after several years of underperformance, our ambition is return Sibelco to sustainable competitiveness,’ he commented.

‘The proposed changes aim to enhance the ability of our local teams to develop the business, ensure more intense focus on the needs of our customers, and improve our overall productivity.

‘We are very mindful of the potential impact of the proposed changes on our people, and we are committed to a fair, respectful, and transparent process that minimizes uncertainty for our colleagues.’