The trade union CNV Vakmensen has agreed to the social plan related to Royal Boskalis Westminister’s fleet rationalization, announced in July .
Mid-September, Boskalis’ Dutch Works Council agreed to the fleet rationalization and the related social plan.
Boskalis will start with the implementation of the plan in November.
In the coming two years, 24 vessels will be taken out of service resulting in the loss of approximately 650 jobs worldwide. In terms of composition, this concerns a cross-section of nationalities with around 150 Dutch staff on Dutch payroll being affected.
The timing of laying off employees depends on factors such as the current deployment of vessels and national legislation. Where possible, the workforce reduction will be absorbed through attrition and redeployment, Boskalis said.
Unfortunately, despite this, compulsory redundancies can not be ruled out, the company said.
Boskalis had based the decision to rationalize the fleet on the results of its fleet rationalization study that was initiated in the light of deteriorating market conditions and an expected prolonged period of low energy and commodity prices.