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-2022-10/2204 – measures in Belgium
Country | Belgium , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 04 March 2022 |
Context | War in Ukraine |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
– Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Author | Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 04 May 2022 (updated 20 June 2022) |
Following the European guideline of 20 July regarding 'minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof' the status of 'temporary protection' has been made applicable to Ukrainian refugees coming to Belgium. In addition to other social benefits, it allows them to be employed within the country without additional permits (aside from the 'A card' that is needed for residing within the country).
If the necessary conditions apply (possession of the A card, have a place of residence and other necessary documents), the Ukrainian refugee is allowed to access the labour market and become employed in the same manner that Belgian state citizens are able to (for the duration that the different permits remain valid). This period is initially established as one year with the possibility to extend it further by six months and a year respectively, depending on the situation at the time. Despite this unlimited access to the labour market, refugees are not allowed to start their own business and become self-employed.
No data available.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers | Does not apply to businesses |
Migrants or refugees
|
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Local / regional government EU (Council, EC, EP) |
National 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:
It is currently unclear to which extent the social partners were involved.
No public statement on the specific measure released but support is provided by for example trade unions to provide information.
Citation
Eurofound (2022), Access to the labour market for Ukrainian refugees, measure BE-2022-10/2204 (measures in Belgium), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BE-2022-10_2204.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.