THE social affairs ministers of the 15 European Union member countries called yesterday for a clear code of conduct governing business closures.

Their statement was released after an informal social affairs ministers' gathering over the weekend in the Netherlands which currently holds the EU presidency.

"The ministers called for a code of conduct which should ensure a period of consultation and information whenever a business wants to shut down," a spokesman for the Dutch social affairs ministry said.

"They wanted the governments to strengthen their national laws so that it's impossible that what happened to Renault (in Belgium) can happen again," he said.

French automotive giant Renault stunned Belgium two weeks ago with its decision to close its profitable Vilvoorde plant near Brussels with the loss of 3,100 jobs.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded into central Brussels yesterday to protest against the move.