The week in business: 31 October
Antwerp-Manchester flights stopped, frozen mussels withdrawn and strike action continues at chemical plant
An overview of this week's business news
Baggage • Swissport
Baggage handler Swissport has lost its contract to service Brussels Airlines freight, it was announced. The airline, which will work with WFS from next year, said the decision was not linked to the lengthy strike by Swissport employees earlier this year. Swissport retains the contract for passenger baggage.
Brewing • Belgian Brewers
The Belgian Brewers federation has joined organisations representing the food services industry to call on the government to lower excise duties on beer. The measure is aimed at helping stimulate the sale of beer, which is in decline at home even as Belgian beers make inroads on overseas markets. The federations also want the government to examine the impact of a possible reduction in VAT.
Chemicals • Tessenderlo Chemie
Planned talks between management and unions at Tessenderlo Chemie in Ham in Limburg province have been put off for an indeterminate time while strike action continues. Unions are protesting at restructuring plans that put 170 of the plant’s 506 jobs at risk. “There is no point in negotiating in the current climate,” a company spokesperson said. Talks will resume when the union suspends its action, she said.
Seafood • Setraco
Frozen seafood producer Setraco has withdrawn one-kilo packages of Venus mussels of the brand Ocean Pride from the market after the discovery of salmonella in test samples. Some product has already been sold, however, and may still be in possession of the buyer. The notice concerns lot number GT1305024 3.166/16307 with an expiry date of 26 April 2015. Product should be returned to the place of purchase for a refund.
Telecoms • Belgacom et al
Internet service providers Belgacom, Telenet and Voo have expressed satisfaction at the intervention by the finance ministry in a legal case brought against the companies by authors’ rights organisation Sabam. The case saw Sabam pursue the companies for the right to claim a levy to compensate the rights owners of music and films that customers can download from the internet. The ministry has asked Sabam to drop the case, on pain of a penalty of €100,000 a day.
Wind power • Electrawinds
Paul Desender is the new chairman of wind energy provider Electrawinds, replacing Jo Cornu, who leaves to become CEO of the rail authority NMBS. Desender’s brother Luc is CEO of the company.
Photo: Ad Meskens/Wikimedia Commons
