The final shutdown of the Marie Claire plant in Vilafranca was announced after the regional employment plan (ERE) expired, impacting the entire workforce. Mayors from Els Ports, Lower Maestrat, and nearby Teruel joined voices of concern. Councils and residents fear a sharp population drop and a reduction in local services tied to fewer people.”
Vilafranca, the plant’s base, was quick to respond. An extraordinary town hall meeting convened on Thursday afternoon to read a formal company statement. The session carried a solemn tone. The mayor, Silvia Colom, explained that political groups had united around the message delivered during the gathering.
The statement stressed solidarity with all workers and urged the company to honor existing agreements with the Generalitat Valenciana. It also called on local institutions to keep supporting Vilafranca and the Marie Claire workforce.
Marie Claire seeks partnerships with international funds to keep the business afloat
request for help
Colom announced that the town would submit a request for assistance to the Diputación, the Generalitat, and the Government of Spain. The goal is to secure funds from New Generation Funds or strategic projects for economic recovery and transformation PERTE.
From Morella, the regional capital, the mayor expressed strong support for residents and Vilafranca. Rhamsés Ripollés noted that the closure of the region’s largest industrial employer affects everyone. He described the news as a heavy blow, since many local entrepreneurs and services relied on the factory, and the impact would ripple across the entire area.
Other smaller towns joined the solidarity drive. In Castellfort, mayor Rosa Adela spoke with deep sadness yet held onto hope that the decision could be reversed. She warned that substantial job losses, direct or indirect, would worsen depopulation in the region.
The Vilafranca leadership’s message extended to residents, offering encouragement and resilience to workers and to the people of Vilafranca as they move forward.
Town surprised by Marie Claire closure: a tough blow for the area
Mari Luz Monterde, mayor of Benassal, underscored the seriousness of the situation. She urged bold steps to preserve an enterprise central to the local economy, noting that consequences would spread to neighboring districts in Els Ports, Maestrat, and Teruel as institutions respond to the evolving scenario.
Closure concerns extend to neighboring Teruel towns
In Iglesuela del Cid, a nearby municipality in Teruel, the worry is clear. Mayor Fernando Safont explained that more than 30 percent of the town’s active population is tied to Marie Claire through employment or affiliations with the company. He warned that the closure would bring lasting changes to the town’s welfare and that attracting new industries would be essential to prevent a steep population decline.
Blai Peñarro, president of the Els Ports Commonwealth, expressed unanimous support for Vilafranca. He stated that a motion to prevent the shutdown and back Vilafranca had been approved with broad consensus.
In response to potential unemployment spikes, Vilafranca’s local education authorities decided to extend the registration window for ongoing vocational training modules. The city council stated that, given the extraordinary situation, anyone interested in joining the next course, even if the deadline has passed, could visit the office or provide their details to participate in the cycles.