Brussels, 18 June 2025 – On Friday 13 June, Belgian employers’ organizations and trade unions gathered in Brussels for a national seminar held under the umbrella of the EU-funded StitchTogether project.
Faced with rising energy costs, global competition, and an acute shortage of skilled labour, the Belgian textile sector stands at a critical crossroads. In response, social partners are determined to collaboratively shape a forward-looking industry, one that not only adapts to ongoing digital and green transitions, but also continues to provide quality jobs and economic value.
With these growth pillars in mind, the social partners adopted the Brussels Declaration, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening social dialogue and guiding the textile industry toward a more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive future:
• Reinforcing social dialogue
• Creating room for entrepreneurship
• Supporting a sustainable transition
• Investing in innovation and lifelong learning for the attractivity of the industry
• Fostering an inclusive labour market and good quality jobs
• Committing to due diligence and socially responsible business practices
A Shared Vision for the Future
The joint declaration embodies a shared ambition for a resilient textile industry, one that strives to balance competitiveness with social fairness.
Dirk Vantyghem, EURATEX Director General, emphasized: “Belgium is a good example of working social dialogue. We have to understand that the decisions that are made in Brussels influence the industry down to local levels, therefore we must contribute to the development of social dialogue, as a way forward in addressing challenges and fair competition”.
Judith Kirton-Darling, IndustriAll Europe’s General Secretary stated: “The Belgian textile industry faces many of the same challenges as elsewhere in Europe, but it has a strong history of innovation and adapting to change. It is essential that workforce expertise is nurtured, particularly in technical and innovative textiles. We must take advantage of our proximity to European institutions to ensure that Europe’s textile strategy is tailored to defend textile workers and companies in every region in Europe, safeguard jobs and strengthen our competitiveness, including in Belgium.”
The StitchTogether project, co-funded by the European Union, seeks to promote social dialogue within the textile and clothing industry, by bringing together employer’ and workers’ organizations.