Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure BE-2004-27/2508 – measures in Belgium
Country | Belgium , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 01 July 2004 |
Context | Restructuring Support Instruments |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Income protection beyond short-time work
– Income support for unemployed |
Author | Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 23 June 2022 (updated 02 November 2022) |
In 1 July 2004, a system of reducing workers' contributions was introduced, the aim of which was to give workers that were made redundant as a result of restructuring a financial incentive when they find work again, by guaranteeing them a higher net wage for a certain period, without increasing their gross pay. This measure, together with the restructuring target group reduction, is part of the promotion of the re-employment of workers made redundant due to restructuring.
This instrument is available to employees who have lost their previous job as a result of company bankruptcy, closure or restructuring.
A reduction of the personal social security contributions is foreseen for the employee who has a restructuring card and who is hired by a new employer.
This flat-rate reduction amounts to €133.33 per month for a full-time employee. It is granted in the period from when the employment started (with a valid restructuring card) until the end of the second quarter when this employment restarted. Meaning the duration of the reduction can last for a maximum of 3 quarters in total. For blue-collar workers, the amount of €133.33 is multiplied by €1.08 and for part-time workers, these amounts are prorated. This reduction in favour of the employee may only be applied insofar as the reference monthly salary of the employee does not exceed a certain wage limit:
For employees younger than 30 years, the reference monthly wage may not exceed €3,009. For employees of at least 30 years of age, the reference monthly wage may not be higher than €4,416.60. Previously (before the transfer to the regional governments) employers received social security benefits. However, all of the regions dismissed this aspect over the years.
A reduction in costs for the employee in question because of the reduction in social benefits they are obliged to pay.
The reduction in social benefits for employers that used to be the case is removed in the majority of the cases. It only remains to some extent in the German-speaking community.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Unemployed
|
Applies to all businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Local / regional government
|
Regional funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
Unknown
Unknown
Citation
Eurofound (2022), Restructuring card, measure BE-2004-27/2508 (measures in Belgium), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BE-2004-27_2508.html
Share
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.