Key Takeaways
• Company: British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Plan: 51 job cuts proposed at the Groot-Bijgaarden site
• Forum: announced during a special works council meeting
• Reasons cited: stricter tobacco regulation and rising excise duties
• Site role: supply chain, finance, marketing, IT and HR functions
• Headcount: previously around 110 staff; current figure not specified in the report
2Firsts, January 15, 2026 – According to Brussels Morning Newspaper, British American Tobacco (BAT) has revealed plans to cut 51 jobs at its Groot-Bijgaarden facility in Belgium. The announcement was made during a special works council meeting, with management attributing the decision to tougher market conditions resulting from stricter tobacco regulations and rising excise duties.
The report describes the Groot-Bijgaarden location as a key operational hub for BAT in Belgium, handling commercial functions including supply chain, finance, marketing, IT and HR departments. It says the site previously employed around 110 staff members, while current figures ahead of the planned cuts were not specified.
On procedure, the report notes that special works council meetings are standard in Belgium when significant workforce changes are planned, allowing unions and employee representatives to receive information directly from management. It adds that Belgian labour law requires consultation periods following such announcements, during which social plans may be negotiated to mitigate impacts.
The report says management emphasized external pressures on the tobacco sector, including stricter regulations across Europe such as advertising bans, packaging rules and public smoking restrictions, alongside excise duty hikes in Belgium and neighboring markets. It also notes BAT is operating in a shrinking traditional cigarette market and pivoting toward alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, while the announcement itself focused on regulatory and tax burdens without detailing internal efficiencies or departmental targets for the cuts.
Photo credit: Brussels Morning Newspaper
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