The closure of Ecco's Portuguese manufacturing unit in Santa Maria da Feira will leave 632 workers unemployed, according to reports from employees who left the facility on Monday. The decision was communicated to staff across the factory's 22 departments during a morning meeting, by which time production had already been suspended.
Workers indicated that the shutdown will be progressive. The sample section is expected to operate for two more weeks, after which only a limited number of employees will be called in to facilitate the complete emptying of the factory. This process is projected to conclude in the first quarter of 2027, although the sale of the building may occur later.
Fernanda Moreira, president of the National Union of Footwear, Bags and Related Industries, stated that dismissed workers will remain at home without loss of salary until they receive formal documentation to access unemployment benefits. As compensation, each employee is entitled to one month's salary for every year of service, a figure the union acknowledges exceeds legal requirements.
Ecco Portugal's administration attributed the "total and definitive" closure to a broader restructuring of the company's global productive structure. While the company did not disclose its 2025 turnover figures, it confirmed that the international reorganization also involves closing its unit in Vietnam and considering a reduction of approximately 400 jobs in regional and global functions, including in Denmark. The company stated the goal is to adapt its production capacity to current and future business needs.
Gustavo Kremer, General Director of Ecco Portugal, described the day as "very sad for everyone," acknowledging that Portuguese workers have been a vital part of the Ecco family for over 40 years. He emphasized that the decision does not reflect on the quality of work or the employees' performance. The company pledged to support workers through the legal closure process in dialogue with representatives and local authorities, ensuring compensation payments and exploring additional measures to assist with job transitions.
Sources: Observador.