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-2020-11/853 – Updated – measures in Belgium
Country |
Belgium
, applies regionally
|
Time period | Open ended, started on 13 March 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Access to finance |
Author | Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 14 May 2020 (updated 08 September 2020) |
Across the country there has been an important focus on keeping businesses afloat and try to support them during the months of economic inactivity or reduced activity. These vary from financial compensations, additional subsidies to trainings that are provided in order for businesses to adapt to the changing situations. Aside from the federal measures, the different regions also have their own support measures and regulations to aid companies and sectors that need it.
Wallonia:
Walloon shopkeepers have the possibility of free online training on how to use social networks and e-commerce in order to maintain economic activity in these times of lockdown, through the e-Learning platform: "Digital Commerce".
Exceptional aid of €75 million granted to the health and social sectors. Hospitals, rest homes, night shelters, reception centres for the disabled, social relays, etc. will benefit from this financial aid. Funding will continue to be available for sectors that have come to a standstill. This exceptional aid will be used to finance, among other things, a flat-rate allowance of €5,000 to be granted to social and health structures facing a loss of income due to the Coronavirus: family support services, mental health services, addiction care and assistance services, health promotion services, day care centres for the elderly or disabled, etc.
Brussels:
Accelerated (and early) processing, commitment and payment of economic expansion direct aid (subsidies) in the following sectors: hospitality, tourism, events and culture.
Strengthening support mechanisms for businesses in difficulty by increasing the funding of the Centre for Companies in Difficulty (CED).
Flanders:
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
17 August 2020 |
Implementation of the Flemish protection mechanism for businesses. |
For the exceptional support measure around 1,200 structures will be supported within the Walloon region.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers |
Sector specific set of companies
|
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 | No involvement | No involvement |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
The involvement of the social partners is not clear.
The extent of their involvement is unclear.
This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles | G45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
G46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | |
G47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | |
Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities | Q86 Human health activities |
Q87 Residential care activities | |
Q88 Social work activities without accommodation |
This case is not occupation-specific.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Regional measures to help businesses stay afloat, measure BE-2020-11/853 (measures in Belgium), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BE-2020-11_853.html
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