Car manufacturer Toyota has announced 100 new vacancies at its research and development centre in Zaventem for engineers, administrative workers, marketers and sales staff.

The world’s largest paint producer, AkzoNobel, has announced the loss of 60 jobs at its plant in Vilvoorde, mainly in marketing and sales. A total of 500 people are employed by the company in Vilvoorde and nearby Machelen in Flemish Brabant.

Unions and management at food company Pauwels Sauzen in Oelegem, Antwerp province, are negotiating a new proposal, following an action last week when workers blocked the factory gates in protest at the dismissal of a union representative and two other workers. Management has now produced a more attractive redundancy package.

Management at Belgocontrol, based in Steenokkerzeel, Flemish Brabant, have given themselves two weeks to negotiate with unions over a restructuring plan in an effort to avoid industrial action. Talks started again on Monday this week, but details of the plan have not been revealed by either side while discussions continue. Belgocontrol is an anonymous state enterprise that controls movements in Belgian airspace and reported losses last year of €20.9 million, with debts up €12 million to €47.6 million. The original plan involved annual spending cuts of 3.5%.