Close of Ecco factory in Portugal leaves 632 workers in unemployment

The closure of the factory was revealed to most employees of the 22 departments of this unit of the district of Aveiro and Metropolitan Area of Porto during a meeting held this morning, already with the production suspended.

The closure, according to the workers, will be progressive, with the sample section running for another two weeks and then only a few workers will be required to expedite procedures necessary for the complete emptying of the plant, which should happen “in the first quarter of 2027”, even if the building is only sold later.

The forecast is from Fernanda Moreira, president of the National Trade Union of the Footwear, Malas and Afins, who said that the workers dismissed in the meantime “they are already at home, but without loss of salary”, until they receive the formal documentation for access to unemployment benefit.

As compensation, each employee will then be entitled to a salary for each service number, which the union recognises as above the law.

Contacted by Lusa, Ecco Portugal’s administration did not reveal its turnover in 2025, but attributed the “total and definitive” closure to a “wider restructuring of Ecco’s global productive structure”.

“ This is a particularly difficult decision for the company, taking into account the awareness of the impact it will have on workers, their families and the local community,” says the Portuguese factory administration in a statement.

International restructuring will also involve the closure of the unit that Ecco has in Vietnam and is still equating “a reduction of around 400 jobs in the regional and global functions of the Group, including Denmark,” he said.

The objective, justifies the company, “is to adapt the productive structure and capacity of the Group to the current and expected needs of the business”.

For the trade unionist Fernanda Moreira, the situation is “terrible” and the behavior of Ecco shows that its leaders “have no humanity” and “treat people as numbers”, even because, received by surprise, the news of the closure is even more “cruel”.

Manuel Couto is one of the employees who today, outside the factory, admitted not to be prepared for the news. With 14 years of service in the house, he confessed: “When we were notified of the meeting, I was counting on a large reduction in staff, as they did several times over the years, but for this I did not expect.”.

Cited in the company’s statement, Ecco Portugal’s director-general Gustavo Kremer acknowledges that “this is a very sad day for everyone” and is included in this universe.

“ For more than 40 years, workers in Portugal were an important part of the Ecco family and contributed significantly to the development and success of the brand. This decision is not a reflection of your work or the quality of what is being done here. We will always be grateful for this contribution,” he said.

Referring to the fact that “the priority now is to support each of the workers at this very difficult time”, Gustavo Kremer points out that the company will start the legal process of closing “in dialogue” with the representatives of the workers and all the competent authorities – including the local authority, with which the brand is said to be willing to “collaborate in support of employees”.

“ In parallel, the company will ensure the payment of compensation and the fulfilment of other labour obligations, and is evaluating other measures to support workers during the transition and in the search for new employment opportunities”, the statement adds.