Clarebout potato plant in Mouscron ordered to shut down, workers expelled
Workers at the Clarebout potato-processing plant in Mouscron were told to leave their stations and the site was locked down, with the company announcing a gradual shutdown of production.
At the Clarebout potato-processing factory in Mouscron, workers were suddenly instructed to stop working and vacate the premises, followed by the arrival of guards who locked the facility's access points. The plant, which has been operating at the Franco-Belgian border since 1988, later gathered its staff under a temporary tent where management disclosed plans to first cut back and then cease production entirely. Chems Mabrouk, a permanent member of the Fédération générale du travail de Belgique (FGTB), condemned the abrupt expulsion as an excessive use of force.
Since Simplot, an American company, took over the group in 2025, employees have reported receiving vague answers to their questions. In response to the shutdown announcement, the company confirmed it will start the Belgian information-consultation process with employee representatives.
Why it matters
The closure threatens jobs in a key agricultural region and highlights tensions after foreign acquisition of a historic plant.
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