9 out of 10 staff that work for the furniture retailer Leen Bakker will lose their jobs. The furniture chain went bankrupt in the summer and its 44 Belgian stores have been for sale since the end of August. Buyers have been found for some of the stores and all or some of the staff that work at them will be kept on, Johan Van Loon of the Christian trade union ACV told VRT News.
On Wednesday the Commercial Court in Antwerp will publish its judgment on the bankruptcy of the furniture retailer Leen Bakker. Johan Van Loon of the Christian trade union ACV told VRT News that "It is expected to state that various buyers have been found to take over some of the stores".
Large retail chains such as the Danish furniture chain Jysk, the Dutch retail chain Swiss Sense and the Belgian toy chain Toy Champ will take over several of what were Leen Bakker shops.
"As a result of this, 10% of the current staff will be able to return to work with a new employer”. However, the vast majority will not.
A mixed picture
Few of the stores that are to be taken over are in Antwerp Province. This is because many of the retailers that are buying Leen Bakker store elsewhere already have had stores in Antwerp Province for many years.
Some buyers intend to take over a store and all its staff, while others intend to take on half of the staff. There are also buyers that simply wish to take over a rental agreement on the building that currently houses a Leen Bakker store. 90% of Leen Bakker’s staff will lose their jobs. However, the union hopes that once the retailer has been declared bankrupt additional buyers will be found for at least some of the remaining stores.