Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 36 measures in Belgium in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 14 cases (39%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, with the next main update scheduled for July 2020.
This overview was prepared by Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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20 May 2020 Updated |
Creating incentives for unemployed to work in horticulture and other essential services and flexibilisation of successive fixed-term contracts
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Other initiatives or policies |
26 October 2020 |
Care jobs for temporary unemployed
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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09 April 2020 Updated |
Flemish interruption premium during COVID-19
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 April 2020 Updated |
Flemish compensation premium in case of large turnover loss
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 April 2020 |
Support measures for self-employed workers facing difficulties
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
09 April 2020 |
Wallonia: Financial support for SMEs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 April 2020 |
Brussels: One-off grant for closed businesses
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
14 May 2020 Updated |
Regional measures on the deferral or cancellation of tax and bills payments
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
14 May 2020 |
Regional measures concerning wage guarantees and extension of subsidies deadlines
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
14 May 2020 Updated |
Regional measures to help businesses stay afloat
Access to finance |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Company loans given for rent support
Access to finance |
20 November 2020 |
New Flemish protection mechanism for businesses
Access to finance |
08 January 2021 |
New Flemish Protection Mechanism
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
11 January 2021 |
Winwin-loan
Access to finance |
11 January 2021 |
Support measures for businesses closed since November 2nd (Wallonia)
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
11 January 2021 |
New loans available to enterprises in Brussels
Access to finance |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of temporary unemployment due to force majeure
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
14 May 2020 Updated |
Additional support for the service voucher sector
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
15 September 2020 Updated |
Extension of temporary unemployment due to force majeure for specific sectors and companies in trouble
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
01 October 2020 |
Collective working time reduction for companies in difficulties
Working time and working time flexibility |
01 October 2020 |
Time credit for employees of companies in difficulty and/or restructuring due to COVID-19
Working time and working time flexibility |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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07 May 2020 |
Office allowance for teleworkers
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
08 January 2021 |
Encouragement premium for care personnel
Well-being of workers |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 May 2020 |
Social partners set out general guidelines for return to work
Occupational health and safety |
31 August 2020 |
Social partner agreement on prevention and protection at the workplace
Occupational health and safety |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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10 April 2020 Updated |
Replacement income for self-employed (bridging right)
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 May 2020 Updated |
Suspension of the degressivity of unemployment benefits during the crisis
Income support for unemployed |
19 May 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 parental leave
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
30 September 2020 |
Temporary unemployment in case of school closure
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
02 September 2020 |
Temporary unemployment premium for employees in the metal sector
Income support for unemployed |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
14 May 2020 |
Regional measures to prevent social hardship
Keeping a safe home |
13 July 2020 |
Additional financial support for people in precarious situations
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
01 September 2020 |
Water and energy premium in case of temporary unemployment
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of meal/eco/gift/sport/culture cheques
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 July 2020 Updated |
Consumption cheques for employees
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
13 July 2020 |
Temporary tax reduction in the HORECA sector
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.