Workers at two Anheuser-Busch InBev breweries in Belgium have blockaded the facilities, in protest at proposed job cuts in the country.

Late last week, the Belgium-based company announced that it is looking to cut around 10% of its workforce in Western Europe, with up to 263 positions expected to be lost in its home market.

However, A-B InBev staff at two breweries in Belgium have reacted by blockading the facilities, at Jupille and Leuven. The blockades, which began last Thursday (7 January) remain ongoing today (15 January).

“The two breweries  are almost completely blockaded, with maybe some minor movement possible,” a spokesperson for A-B InBev told just-drinks. “But it is no longer possible to supply the breweries with raw materials or packaging materials.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that the supply of beer, including flagship brand Stella Artois, was being hampered by the blockade. “We will see in the next few days that both the on- and off-trade in Belgium may run out of stock,” he said. Some unspecified neighbouring countries could also affected.

Yesterday, a “reconciliation meeting” took place on the request of A-B InBev, attended by a mediator from the Ministry of Employment. Representatives of the unions, however, rejected a proposal from the mediator, which A-B InBev had accepted. “As a result,” the spokesperson said, “there is still no dialogue taking place.”

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The spokesperson described A-B InBev has being “not happy” with the situation.

“This is not in the interests of our operations, our customers and our people,” he continued. “This might have a very negative impact on the future position of A-B InBev in Belgium.”

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