Marie Claire, a historic textile label now based in Vilafranca in Castellón, has paused production without closing its doors. A recent meeting between the unions and the company’s management reached an agreement on the employment regulation file, which will take effect this Saturday and impact 190 workers, almost seven tenths of the workforce. The agreement was reached outside the formal negotiation session after the prior week’s meeting ended without a deal, and it opens the path for the company to seek investor backing capable of injecting three to four million euros. The outcome allows the facility to maintain operations at a markedly reduced level while the broader viability plan is pursued.
Following the assembly of workers, union representatives outlined the plan for the 190 employees. Both the UGT and CCOO councils reported strong support from the staff for the agreement submitted for approval, while noting that compensation for those leaving was a painful concession. The timeline referenced by the unions indicated terms extending over a period of 23 days across 13 months, aligning with the negotiation framework that accompanied the contingency measures.
As part of the restructuring, 190 positions will be cut, a condition the company presented to advance its viability plan. Meanwhile, roughly a hundred employees will remain with the Marie Claire operation: 72 in Vilafranca handling production and logistics, and about 30 distributed between Castellón and Valencia. The surviving team will enter a temporary layoff regime, pending improved liquidity to sustain a minimal level of activity. The agreement calls for a minimum staff level of 72 in Vilafranca and 33 elsewhere in Spain. Workers will remain under ERTE status for an additional three months, with the possibility of three further extensions within the company’s upcoming restructuring process announced for mid July. A sense of cautious hope permeates the management and labor representatives as they prepare for the next steps in the plan.
An industrial alternative is also on the table. As reported by Mediterráneo, a local edition of Grupo Prensa Ibérica, the owner of the textile group, B2TEx, has begun implementing a streamlined production strategy. Only three production lines at the Els Ports facility will stay active: medical stockings, compression garments, and race-stopping tights. Other product lines, including casual wear such as pajamas, underwear, and swimwear, are expected to be sourced from overseas, with a focus on Asian suppliers. This shift aims to preserve core manufacturing capabilities while reducing domestic output costs as the company navigates liquidity pressures.
The unions emphasized that the struggle will continue in parallel with the company’s strategic plan. They pledged to pursue alternatives for the Marie Claire facility and to seek a robust industrial program for the Harbors area, aiming to counteract rural depopulation and stabilize local employment. Letters and conversations with regional authorities will persist as part of the outreach to secure credible commitments from new administration figures and economic partners. In the meeting, the company also promised to make its shop accessible to the public, inviting supporters from various sectors to witness the ongoing efforts to preserve jobs and sustain the regional textile footprint.