Factsheet for measure
BE-2024-36/3767
– measures in Belgium
Changes in the Walloon labour market policy
Évolutions de la politique wallonne de l’emploi
Background information
Labour market policy is the competence of the regions in Belgium. The outgoing Walloon government has published the long-awaited revision of the 2019 government decree on the employment of foreign workers in 2024. As was the case for the Brussels and Flemish region, the Wallon region also revised its labour market policy for immigrants. All these changes were implemented on 1 September 2024 through the: Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon relatif à l'admission au travail de travailleurs étrangers.
The new regulations do not alter the principle that foreign workers must still hold a valid authorisation to work in Belgium (either a work permit or a single permit). However, the regulations modernise the conditions for granting access to employment and ease the entry of certain specific categories of workers, in some cases without conditions. The rules also clarify definitions such as short-term stay and the remuneration of foreign workers.
Content of measure
Wallonia broadly follows the approach taken by the other regions in terms of labour market policy for foreign workers. The new rules have been in effect since 1 September 2024. The main changes are as follows:
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No proof requirement for shortage occupations - if the employee does not belong to a specific category (such as highly-skilled workers, seasonal workers, researchers, etc.), the employer must prove that no suitable candidates are available locally. This can be done by advertising the vacancy for at least five weeks via Forem (The Walloon regional PES) or by demonstrating that all possible recruitment efforts have been made without success. For positions listed as shortage occupations by Forem, this proof is not required.
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Lower salary threshold for highly-skilled workers under 30 -in the Flemish region, a reduced minimum salary requirement has applied for several years to highly-skilled workers under 30. The Walloon Region has adopted the same measure: the salary threshold is reduced to 80% of the standard minimum wage level.
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The EU Blue Card - the new rules for the European Blue Card are similar to those applied in Flanders and Brussels.
Use of measure
No evaluation at the time of writing.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Local / regional government
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Regional funds
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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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Unknown
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Unknown
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
We have not been able to find any concrete evidence of direct social partner involvement in the the development of these changes.
But some of the employers' associations provide information on these changes to their members (eg.: Agoria).
Views and reactions
We have not been able to find any public views from social partners on these specific changes.
Sources
