In connection with all company closures, Danish Crown says its social plan is there to help those who are made redundant, and this is also the case for the 860 employees affected by the proposed closing-down of activities in Holstebro and Rødding and a department in Esbjerg.

As part of the social plan, Danish Crown earmarks a sum of 7,500 Danish kroner per employee. In collaboration with the employees, job banks are set up to help the employees find new jobs, and up until the most recent closures in 2008, for which figures are not yet available, this has been a successful initiative.

Figures compiled in the autumn show that 98 per cent of the employees who have in recent years been affected by workplace closures have found new jobs, decided to start studying or training, or have taken early retirement or retired.

All in all, Danish Crown closures have resulted in 2,400 job losses in the past year.

Prison Guard

As part of the social plan, employees are offered an interview to clarify their possible job wishes. Experience has shown that many seize the chance to update their academic qualifications in general or sign up for vocational courses, for example taking a truck or lorry driving licence.

Others embark on a completely different career path, as did 46-year-old Aage Sørensen who, after working at the Danish Crown slaughterhouse in Vojens since 1989, has been training to become a prison officer after the slaughterhouse closed down last year.

"Of course it is frustrating when your workplace suddenly closes, but for me it meant that I decided to do this training course. I saw it as an opportunity to try something new," explains Aage Sørensen.

Others have taken the leap to become social and health service assistants, teachers or even greenkeepers.

The job banks also advertise job vacancies at other companies. The job bank is usually managed by the union representative and is open for nine months.