Factsheet for measure
BE-2020-12/459
–
Updated
– measures in Belgium
Extension of meal/eco/gift/sport/culture cheques
Uitbreiding geldigheidsduur van maaltijd/eco/geschenk/sport en culuurcheques
Background information
Benefits like meal/culture/eco/sports and culture cheques are quite common forms of fringe benefits in Belgium.
The COVID-19 crisis makes it more difficult to pay with cheques, especially eco-cheques (which can be used to buy a wide range of eco-friendly products or services). This is the reason why the social partners are asking for an extension of the validity period of the cheques in a joint national labour council advice. The government is expected to follow this advice.
Content of measure
For meal, eco and gift vouchers, which expire in March, April, May and June 2020, it is necessary that an immediate extension of 6 months is provided from the date of expiry of such vouchers.
For the sports/culture vouchers: request to postpone the expiry date of the sports/culture vouchers from 30 September to 31 December 2020.
There is no limit per person to the amount of cheques that can be be extended. Following the advice of the national labour council the extension should happen automatically.
Finally, the cheque publishers commit themselves to a fast and effective information campaign.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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25 November 2020
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Depending on the type of cheque, another extension has been approved by Minister of finances Vincent Van Peteghem. Meal- and ecocheques will be extended by another six months, sports- and culturecheques up to a year.
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30 May 2020
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The advice by the social partners was followed and the extension implemented.
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For lunch vouchers, eco vouchers and gift vouchers that are due to expire in the months of March to June 2020, the validity period shall be extended by six months from the due date of the vouchers in question.
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For sports and culture vouchers, which have a fixed expiry date of 30 September, the period of validity shall be extended until 31 December 2020.
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Use of measure
It is unclear how many cheques are currently in circulation that are about to expire. Given the fact that these types of benefits are very common in a wide range of sectors, the amount is probably significant.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Social partners jointly
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No special funding required
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Form
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Unknown
Involvement
The advice was formulated within the National Labour Council, an important national bipartite social dialogue body.
Views and reactions
The advice was formulated within the National Labour Council, an important national bipartite social dialogue body.
Sources
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08 April 2020: Advies Nationale Arbeidsraad nummer 2.161
(www.cnt-nar.be)
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30 May 2020: Corona: verlenging geldigheidsduur van onder meer maaltijdcheques is een fei
(www.sd.be)
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11 December 2020: News.Belgium.be
(news.belgium.be)
