The Belgian method to increase the employment rate – L’Express

The Belgian deputies voted on the night of Thursday. Consequently, July 18, on the night of Thursday, July 18, the limitation of unemployment benefits, a flagship reform of the government led by the Flemish conservative Bart de Wever, conspired by the unions and the French -speaking left, on Thursday 18 July.

The reform. Furthermore, which must enter into force in January 2026, is part of the government’s strategy to raise the employment rate to 80 % by 2029 in Belgium. Therefore, This rate was displayed in 2024 at 72.3 %, one of the lowest in the EU.

Rights limited to two years – Belgian method increase employment rate

The current system offers unlimited, declining allowances over the payments. Furthermore, The reform now limits unemployment rights to two years. However, It will also have to have worked at belgian method increase employment rate least a year in the past three years to obtain a. Nevertheless, year of unemployment. Therefore, The degression of the allowances will also be increased.

However. In addition, derogations will be granted to people following training in trades in tension or for those who lose their jobs and justify 30 years of career, at least half-time. The reform also introduces the right to rebound. namely the right to receive six months of unemployment benefits once in his career in the event of resignation. Finally. the concept of “suitable employment” will be modified, namely the criteria according to which a job seeker cannot refuse a position offered to him.

A contested reform

The reform is challenged even in the ranks of the majority. where the French-speaking party engaged them (centrist) belgian method increase employment rate criticizes him, in unison with the left, for overthrowing in the French-speaking municipalities a financial security of social security hitherto national. In French -speaking Belgium, the unemployment rate is, nationally, twice as high in Flanders, the Northern Dutch -speaking region. It is particularly in this region that public social assistance centers (CPAS) under the municipalities -. managing the allocation of social minima – fear a large influx of unemployed at the end of rights.

Finally. the text of the government, included in a “-program law” with various socio-economic measures, was adopted with the support of deputies of the five majority parties, including centrists. A compromise was found thanks to the granting to the CPAS of an envelope of 300 million euros for each of the first two belgian method increase employment rate years of the reform. in 2026 and 2027, against 234 million initially planned.

180. 000 people excluded from unemployment

The reform vote was denounced this Friday by the League for Human Rights (LDH), which sees it as “an unprecedented attack on Social Security”. “More than 180,000 people will be excluded from unemployment by July 1, 2027,” calculated the organization.

With a vast pension reform currently under discussion. this limitation of unemployment rights has been at the heart of union mobilization in Belgium for six months, as soon as the new government is entry. A day of national strike was organized each month, and the unions call for action again on October 14.