The construction-equipment giant Caterpillar is planning to shut a large production plant in Belgium, sparking attempts by workers to occupy the site.

The decision is part of a global restructuring plan, announced in September, that could see the company cut as many
as 10,000 jobs world-wide in the next few years.

The plant is based in Gosselies, close to Charleroi, which once was a leading city in the country’s industrial revolution but has since seen several decades of decline.

In a statement, the group said it has to “contemplate actions to reduce manufacturing capacity and take operating costs out of our business to align with lower demand”.

The site’s activities are set to be transferred to an existing plant in Grenoble, France, and to other plants outside of Europe.

Caterpillar said it will now begin the formal “information and consultation process” on the closure of the plant. It promises a “constructive dialogue with the employee representatives in order to minimise the global impact”.

The company’s leaders are set to meet Prime Minister Charles Michel and regional leaders to discuss the decision. Caterpillar cut its full-year sales and profits forecast for a second straight quarter in July.