Company Announces ERE Plan at Gavá-Viladecans Facilities
Roca Hygiene has reached a principle agreement with the labor unions to close the employment regulation file (ERE) for its Gavá and Viladecans plants in the Barcelona area. The plan foresees the departure of 168 workers from a total workforce of 700. The exits are voluntary, a detail confirmed by both the company and the unions, and the board is scheduled to vote on the proposal between Monday and Tuesday of next week.
Sources close to the company emphasize that the facility will continue its industrial activities. They note plans to strengthen its position as a global reference in bathroom product innovation and sustainability, maintaining operations while pursuing strategic improvements in technology and processes.
Roca Sanitarios had signaled at the start of September its intention to reduce staff, citing a decline in orders and a drop in profits in 2022. After a negotiation period, management and the unions reached a mutual agreement. In June the group released its financial results, reporting a 76% drop in profit for 2022, down to 42 million euros.
The strategy targets workers over 53 years old, who may be offered early retirement options under a package that guarantees a payment roughly at 90% of salary. CCOO sources indicate that those affected so far have received this amount, with a 1.5% annual revaluation over time until retirement.
Where a list of 168 volunteers at the Gavá center cannot be assembled under these terms, the option exists to offer incentives to workers younger than 53 in exchange for compensation. The package includes 42 days of work per year, with a capped payment period of 32 months. Some sums exceed the legal minimum, reflecting trends seen in reforms that set 33 days for unfair dismissal and 20 days for objective dismissal in certain situations.
According to CCOO sources, the company has committed not to hire new units in the near future. If layoffs occur again in the medium term, the preliminary agreement outlines that the same terms will apply through 2027 (inclusive).
Across Catalonia, a total of 3,399 workers were dismissed under the ERE during the first six months of the year, representing a 59% rise from the same period in the previous year, according to the latest figures compiled by the Ministry of Labor. These numbers illustrate the broader impact of market pressures on the manufacturing sector in the region, and they contextualize the Gavá-Viladecans plan within a wider labor landscape.
Industry observers note that the consolidation of the Gavá-Viladecans facility aims to preserve production capacity while aligning costs with current demand. The negotiations reflect a balancing act between maintaining a robust industrial footprint in the area and addressing profitability challenges that have affected several sectors in recent years. The outcome of the upcoming board vote will determine whether these voluntary exits become the framework for long-term workforce adjustments at the site. Marked attributions from union officials and company representatives emphasize the intent to protect the core manufacturing capability while offering a pathway for affected workers to transition with severance terms and early retirement options.
In summary, the initiative seeks to ensure ongoing operations at the Gavá-Viladecans plants while implementing a carefully scoped reduction in staff. The plan is framed as a voluntary program with a view to preserving the business’s strategic objectives, supporting workers through transitional arrangements, and maintaining the site’s role as a center of innovation within the bathroom products sector. The situation remains under review as the board’s decision approaches, with extra attention on how the terms will be applied to those most affected and how the broader labor environment might influence subsequent steps in Catalonia and beyond.
Note: All information reflects the parties’ statements and published labor data from public authorities, with attribution to company sources and labor unions where cited.