September is not only the start of the new school year. This year’s September also heralded a lot of changes!
Teachers with foreign qualifications get temporary appointment
Let’s start with school. Schools can now hire staff members with a foreign diploma and give them a temporary appointment. Candidates must submit a valid application to the government to have their diploma recognised. That application needs to go to the NARIC-Vlaanderen (National Academic Recognition Centre), which examines and assesses foreign study certificates.
Until the foreign diploma is recognised, the staff member will unfortunately only receive a salary based on the lowest salary scale for the position they hold. The salary is regularised once the diploma is recognised. If the diploma is not officially recognised, the appointment is ended.
Stricter airport liquid rules reintroduced
Strict rules on liquids and gels in hand luggage are back in force at all European Union airports. You will only be able to carry on containers of up to 100 millilitres, packed in a clear plastic bag, with a maximum volume of 1 litre.
Some airports had relaxed the rules because they operate new baggage scanners, but the EU has doubts about the reliability of these devices. Pending a thorough screening of the scanners, the old 2006 rules will remain in place.
For Belgium nothing really changes, as the 2006 rules were still in force.
Brussels public transport gets more expensive
Public transport fares in Brussels are rising. Transport company MIVB is increasing its prices in line with inflation.
A one-way ticket will now cost 2.20 euros, an increase of 10 euro cents. A day ticket now costs 8 euros, a ten-journey ticket 18 euros. A bus ride to the airport will cost 7.50 euros, while a ticket for the taxi bus sets you back 1.80 euros. Monthly season tickets cost 52 euros instead of 49 euros. An annual season ticket costs 520 euros instead of 499 euros.
Changes to De Lijn timetable
Flemish transport company De Lijn is making changes to its timetable, except in Limburg. It’s always best to check your journey via the app or website!
Fines for late car inspection
Drivers who present their car at the car inspection up to a month too late must again pay a fine of 9.80 euros. If you are over six months late, the fine rises to 35 euros.
The fine had been temporarily scrapped last year because of lengthy waiting times at inspection centres. Waiting times at the inspection centres have been tackled and the fines are back.
End of watching television via an aerial
TV Vlaanderen is stopping its television via aerial service. The company points to declining interest and the development of alternative forms of viewing. Customers will have to switch to a TV app via the internet or television via satellite.
Analogue TV broadcasts over the airwaves disappeared in Flanders in 2008. Until the end of 2018, you could still watch VRT channels for free using a digital receiver; after that, it was still possible to get a pay service via TV Vlaanderen.