The Dutch textile company Zeeman has agreed with the unions to close 13 establishments in Spain, two fewer than initially planned, with compensation of 33 days per year worked.
The low-cost textile chain Zeeman has reached an agreement with the unions to implement a Redundancy Plan (ERE) in Spain that entails the definitive closure of 13 stores in the country. The agreement, reached with UGT, CCOO, and Fetico, ends a process that began on June 1 and significantly improves the initial conditions proposed by the Dutch company.
Two stores saved from closure
The final agreement has managed to reduce the number of closures from the 15 that Zeeman initially considered. The stores in Burriana (Castellón) and Cartagena (Murcia) have been excluded from the ERE and will continue to operate, according to union sources.
UGT has positively assessed the outcome of the negotiation, highlighting that the negotiating effort has minimised the labour impact. In total, the ERE affects part of the company's workforce in Spain, although the exact number of workers laid off has not been publicly detailed.
The company, founded in 1967 in the Netherlands and specialised in textiles and household items at reduced prices, has nearly 300 stores across Europe. In Spain, its presence was concentrated in regions such as the Valencian Community, Catalonia, and Andalusia.
Improved compensation and relocation
One of the key points of the agreement is the economic conditions for the affected workers. The compensation has been set at 33 days per year worked, with a maximum cap of 24 monthly payments, a significant improvement over the legal minimum (20 days per year with 12 monthly payments).
Additionally, the company will mandatorily pay 15 days' salary between the effective departure date and the formal end of the contract. For those workers who voluntarily opted for the ERE without being directly affected, the compensation will be 20 days per year worked, with a cap of 12 monthly payments, under the objective dismissal formula.
The unions have also managed to include an external relocation plan managed by the consultancy Randstad, whose primary objective will be the rapid reintegration of the dismissed workers. For those over 55 years old, a special agreement with Social Security will be activated, as established in current legislation.
A context of restructuring in low-cost textiles
The closure of these 13 stores is part of a restructuring process that Zeeman initiated in Spain to adjust its commercial network to market developments. The company competes in the low-cost textile segment, where other chains such as Primark and Kiabi have also made adjustments in recent years.
For the affected workers, the agreement represents an exit with more favourable conditions than the legal ones, although uncertainty about their future employment remains. External relocation will be key in the coming months, especially in a context of slowing textile consumption in Spain.
The effective closure of the stores will occur gradually over the coming weeks, as confirmed by sources from the negotiation. Workers will receive individual communication of their dismissal in the coming days, along with the agreed conditions.
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