Unions demand clarity over Shell Moerdijk’s future
FNV and CNV fear the chemical complex could be sold, reorganised or closed.
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Trade unions FNV and CNV are demanding that Shell quickly provide clarity about the future of its chemical complex in Moerdijk. According to the unions, employees are uncertain about a possible sale, reorganisation or closure, but Shell has announced no decision on the matter.
FNV and CNV made the call on Monday following a poll among employees at Shell Moerdijk. According to the unions, a large majority of workers believe Shell should quickly provide clarity and guarantees. The unions also want to agree a social plan if a sale or major reorganisation affects jobs.
The unions are not presenting closure as a decision that has been taken. They say that various future scenarios are being discussed both inside and outside Shell, including a sale, the splitting up of activities and downsizing. It is not clear from the unions’ public statement which option Shell is investigating or when a decision will be taken.
The uncertainty stems from a reorganisation reported by FNV in June. According to the union, positions had been eliminated at Moerdijk, while new positions could also emerge. Shell reportedly wanted to redeploy employees internally as much as possible, but the union expected that not everyone could be placed. No exact number of potentially disappearing jobs has been announced.
Shell Moerdijk is a large chemical complex on a site of approximately 325 hectares. CNV cites production of around 4.5 million tonnes per year and approximately 1,400 employees, in addition to many more subcontractors. Those figures come from the union statement; no current confirmation from Shell itself regarding the number of employees was found.
The discussion is taking place against the backdrop of problems in the European chemical industry. FNV and CNV point to high energy costs and international competition. At the same time, Shell published information in June about investments and making the complex more sustainable, including projects to reduce emissions and use more recycled raw materials. This shows that previous investment plans do not automatically provide clarity about the current strategic direction.
For the region, the issue involves more than direct employment at Shell. Suppliers, maintenance companies and logistics firms also depend partly on the complex. The unions therefore say that the consequences of a possible change of ownership or reorganisation could be felt across the wider industry around Moerdijk.
The current development is therefore primarily a call from the trade unions, not an announcement of closure. The public sources consulted contain no response from Shell to FNV and CNV’s demands or to the scenarios mentioned. The main outstanding question is when Shell will inform its employees and the works council.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- FNV and CNV are calling for clarity and a social plan.
- Shell has not made a closure decision public in the sources consulted.
- According to the unions, the chemical industry is under pressure from costs and international competition.
Left
Arguments Shell must take responsibility for its employees and the region before making strategic choices. A sale or reorganisation should come with guarantees, employee participation and a social plan.
Values Job security, employee participation, solidarity and protection of the public interest.
Consequences Greater protection could limit redundancies and regional damage, but could make a sale or restructuring more expensive and slower.
Centre
Arguments Employees and the government are entitled to timely information, but Shell must retain room to choose an economically sustainable solution. The figures, alternatives and consequences should first be examined carefully.
Values Transparency, continuity, legal certainty and consultation.
Consequences A phased process could reduce uncertainty without ruling out an option in advance, but would not immediately provide certainty about jobs.
Right
Arguments A private company must be able to decide which activities remain profitable and competitive. Excessively onerous conditions imposed by the government or trade unions could put further pressure on investment and Dutch industry.
Values Entrepreneurship, property rights, competitiveness and financial responsibility.
Consequences Greater flexibility could improve the viability of activities, but employees and the region may bear a larger share of the risk.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current development is based directly on the statement by CNV and FNV. Background on the reorganisation and Shell’s investment plans comes from separate union and company sources; uncertainties have been explicitly attributed.
- confirmed FNV and CNV called for clarity about the future of Shell Moerdijk on 12 October. — This is stated in CNV’s current statement. source
- confirmed The unions mention a sale, break-up, downsizing and closure as possible scenarios. — These scenarios are mentioned in the CNV statement. source
- confirmed In June, FNV reported that positions could disappear and that redeployment was not certain for everyone. — This is stated in FNV’s update on Moerdijk and Pernis. source
- confirmed Shell published information in June about investments and sustainability measures at Moerdijk. — Shell describes investments in electrification, circularity and emissions reduction. source
- confirmed A closure of Moerdijk has not been announced. — The current source contains a call from the trade unions and no closure decision; the text expresses this cautiously. source
Editor's note
It is certain that FNV and CNV called for clarity on 12 October. It remains uncertain which strategy Shell will choose; no current response from Shell was found in freely available sources.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „shell moerdijk”
- De Telegraaf — „shell moerdijk”
- Trouw — „shell moerdijk”