Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between bpost and Temu and requests from the federations, who are relaying concerns expressed by traders, Ministers Vanessa Matz, responsible for Public Enterprises, and Éléonore Simonet, Minister for SMEs, Self-Employed Workers and Small Businesses, have decided to act together by organising a meeting to restore a calm and constructive dialogue.
The aim of these talks between bpost and Belgian trade federations (Comeos, UCM, SNI and Unizo) is to open a direct, calm and transparent dialogue and provide clear answers to the concerns expressed by the Belgian retail and SME sector.
This dialogue will not only clarify the scope of the agreement between bpost and Temu, help understand its concrete implications and answer questions raised by stakeholders, but will above all constructively examine how bpost can strengthen its support for local trade as part of its role as a public enterprise. The ministers thus wish to align bpost's legitimate commercial interests with those of the trade sector, and more broadly with issues of corporate social responsibility.
This initiative reflects a clear intention: to preserve market balance, guarantee fair conditions for traders, and ensure that Belgian public enterprises fully play their role in serving the general interest.
Vanessa Matz: “It is essential to strengthen dialogue with all stakeholders regarding this memorandum of understanding. But beyond this issue, it must be remembered that as a public enterprise, bpost has a significant social responsibility. In this sense, it is fundamental that its strategic choices fully align with this mission. Dialogue is essential to ensure decisions that are transparent, balanced and respectful of our local economic fabric.”
Eléonore Simonet: “As Minister for SMEs, Self-Employed Workers and Small Businesses, my priority is to protect our self-employed workers and local traders against unfair competition. The agreement between bpost and Temu has understandably raised many concerns within the sector. These talks are therefore crucial: they bring all parties together to understand the concrete impact and, above all, to ensure that bpost actively contributes to a healthy and fair environment for our Belgian traders and SMEs. Our traders and self-employed workers work hard, create jobs, invest in our neighbourhoods and pay their taxes here. The Government's decision to introduce a two-euro tax on small parcels is indeed aimed at protecting our self-employed workers from this competition from afar.”