“I am convinced that this reform is both legitimate and fair, David Clarinval told us, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Economy and Employment (MR). Belgium was the only country in the world to offer unemployment benefits without limitation of duration. We can see the perverse effects today: many people are bogging into unemployment and do not leave assistantship. By limiting unemployment over time, there will be a return to employment. “
The cohabitants, large losers in the unemployment reform of Arizona
This is the government’s speech. On the opposition side and union organizations, the analysis is obviously different. We denounce a measure of savings taken on the back of the weakest, in particular the cohabitants.
And the unions want to take out heavy artillery to counter the measure in court (see opposite). A reform which would concern, according to the calculations of the FGTB, nearly 145,000 job seekers in January 2026. A measure qualified as “brutal, unfair and ineffective “by the socialist union, which believes that it “constitutes a frontal attack against the right to human dignity. “
2. When will this measure come into force?
For a long time, Vooruit has conditioned the adoption of a royal decree performing the limitation of unemployment benefits to an agreement on the taxation of capital gains. The agreement being made, the majority introduced an amendment to directly apply the provisions.
The new unemployment regulations will enter, in principle, in force on March 1, 2026. However, certain categories of unemployed who already received allowances as complete unemployed before the entry into force of the new legislation will lose their allowances from January 1, 2026.
Concretely, if you have been unemployed for more than 20 years, your right will end on January 1, 2026. For unemployed people for more than eight years, the rights will stop on March 1, 2026. From April 1, the measure will apply to the other beneficiaries concerned.
Excluded people will be contacted via ONEM and their payment organization.
3. Who is not concerned?
Certain categories of unemployed are not subject to this limitation. Workers in an unemployment plan with company supplement (RCC), port workers, sea fishermen – who, taking into account the specific organization of their work, are de facto in a situation comparable to that of temporary unemployed – as well as arts of the arts, are exempt.
The unemployed 55 and over justifying a sufficient professional past (30 years of career in 2025) will not be concerned either.
Finally, the unemployed who started training for a shortage profession before January 1, 2026 will be able, under certain conditions, to keep their allowances. Just like those who decide to undergo training conducting a job in critical functions of the health care sector, such as a nurse or caregiver. The latter will even keep their allowances throughout their training. Note that income guarantee allowances, which complete the salary in the event of part-time work, will be maintained.