Ford will close the plant in Genk and delete 4,500 jobs

The American automaker Ford announced Wednesday the closure of its Belgian Genk plant by the end 2014, which will result in removal of 4,500 direct jobs and more than 5,000 others at subcontractors, according to a union representative.

Officials Ford Europe, who argue the decline in sales in the region, should meet with the Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and the Flemish regional authorities in the day Wednesday.

"This is a surprise. Pill is extremely bitter," stated Johan Lamers, the Christian Democratic union, the Associated Press, after a special committee business. Ford Genk was sure that there would remain aa barely a month, he added.

The built there exactly half a century Ford Genk, represents more than 30 percent of car production in Belgium. It produces the Mondeo and S-MAX MPV and Galaxy. The manufacturer has to transfer the assembly of three models in Valencia, Spain.

"The proposed restucturation our european manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our building program operations of Ford in Europe," stated the head of Ford Europe, Stephen Oell, in a statement.

Ford provides for losses of more than U.S. $ 1 million in 2012 in Europe, which represents a quarter of its sales. Analysts believe that its production capacities are too high.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has seen a decline in sales of 10.8 percent year on year in September for the entire industry. Over the same period, Ford recorded a decline of 14.9 percent.

A relative calm reigned among the salaries of Ford Genk after the announcement, which had fallen while the plant observes three days of technical unemployment because of weak demand. A fire was lit at the entrance of the site.