Belgium
Background information on industrial relations in Belgium
- 24 Apr 2012
Belgium: Questionnaire for EIRO Overview Report: Belgium Employment and Industrial Relations in the Hotels and RestaurantsThe horeca sector in Belgium is facing some major challenges as shortages of workforce in the hotel and restaurant sector putting forward the necessity to render employement more attractive for jobseekers and young students. Furthermore, the obstacle of undeclared work, the burden of taxation on the workforce and the life long learning issue represent also key challenges for the social partners. The new collective agreement which has been signed end up on september 2011 seems to tackle these issues with success
- 05 Apr 2012
Belgium: New government plans sweeping reformsAfter the longest political crisis in history, Belgium finally has a new federal government led by the Walloon socialist Elio Di Rupo. Pressured by the economic crisis, the demands of the European Union and a strong centre-right Flemish nationalist opposition, the government has embarked on an ambitious list of reforms in employment and social affairs. The pension reforms it has proposed are the most important and have already prompted union disputes across the country.
- 05 Apr 2012
Belgium: Union protest against government’s austerity packageThe first austerity measures and pension reforms introduced by Belgium’s new Di Rupo government were met with trade union protests. After a hastily organised public sector strike, the first general 24-hour strike since 1993 was called by three union confederations. The direct cause of the protest was the lack of social dialogue on proposed reforms to the pension system. However, a more fundamental issue has become the polarisation over handling the current crisis.
- 05 Apr 2012
Belgium: Belgium: representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the insurance sectorInsurance is a stable sector in Belgium, although there is a trend towards concentration. This has led to decreased employment, with the associated challenge of an ageing workforce. As in other sectors of the Belgian economy, the sector is characterised by a traditional model of social dialogue and mutual recognition of employers’ organisation and trade unions in one joint sector committee. Collective bargaining is based on a sectoral framework with further implementation at company level.
- 27 Mar 2012
Belgium: Belgium: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the paper sectorLike the European paper industry as a whole, Belgium’s paper sector is facing severe problems in the form of overproduction and small profit margins. This has led to structural changes in the industry. According to the paper commission of the Belgian Central Economic Council, however, Belgium’s paper sector still has key areas of growth. About 14,000 people work in the sector, which translates to less than 1% of total employment in the Belgian economy. Since 2009, collective agreements have been concluded in the sector in order to adopt or renew anti-crisis measures such as a reduction in working hours, a crisis time credit system and collective suspension from work for white-collar workers.
- 12 Mar 2012
Belgium: Belgium EIRO CAR on ‘helping young workers during the crisis: contributions by social partners and public authorities’Figures show that young workers have been highly concerned by the crisis. In June 2010, the unemployment rate of people aged 25 or less reached 24.4% (seasonally-adjusted level) compared to 8.7% for older job-seekers. Many specific policies aiming at integrate young workers in the labour market already pre-exist the crisis however; no drastic change in approach can be detected since 2008.
- 07 Mar 2012
Belgium: Belgium: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the sea fisheries sectorThe sea fisheries sector in Belgium is a small, but locally important sector, fighting to survive in a sustainable way. Traditionally, fishermen have always had a particular status in the Belgian employment system. Particular social benefits and a dominating variable pay system are important characteristics for the sector. These are backed by a well-organised and structured social dialogue.
- 27 Feb 2012
Belgium: More than 10,000 bankruptcies in 2011A record number of bankruptcies were registered in Belgium in 2011 and more than 10,000 businesses closed down. Almost twice as many businesses went bankrupt in the Flemish-speaking region of Flanders than in the French-speaking Wallonia region, and the commerce and services sector was the hardest hit. There was a growing tendency in the business community to delay payments to other businesses as long as possible, pushing traders operating on low profit margins into insolvency.
- 21 Feb 2012
Belgium: Deadline for harmonising employment statutesA new ruling by the Constitutional Court will force the Belgian legislator and social partners to harmonise the employment statutes for blue-collar and white-collar workers by 2013, 20 years after harmonisation was first proposed. The present laws date back to the 19th century and discriminate against blue-collar workers. The new government has promised to take up the challenge, and legislation passed in 2011 is a small step towards further equality in dismissal procedures.
- 30 Jan 2012
Belgium: New agreement for health and social workers in FlandersAfter months of negotiation, the social partners and the Flemish regional government have concluded an agreement for the non-profit sector, which comprises mainly health, social and cultural work. The agreement will cover some 150,000 employees for 2011–2015. Wage rises and improvements in tackling work pressure and training are scheduled. Non profit organisations controlled at the national level are still waiting for one federal government to resume talks.