The Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Belgian parliament, has given the go-ahead to a time-limit on unemployment benefit. The decision fell Saturday around 4 AM, after nearly 15 hours of debate. The bill will now undergo a second reading in the same committee and then the full House must approve the bill.
When this process is complete unemployment benefit will no longer be unlimited in time from 1 January 2026 onwards, but limited to two years only.
After consultation with the regional authorities, social partners and local social services, the reform will initially affect some 25,000 people who have been unemployed for more than 20 years. From 1 March, the 42,500 people who have not had a job for more than 8 years will follow, followed by the 45,000 others on 1 April.
A second wave of 60,000 people will then follow on 1 July. In total, 180,000 Belgians will thus lose their unemployment benefits next year, a saving just under €2 billion.
For some categories of unemployed, the government has provided an exception. These include the unemployed who resume work at least half-time and receive income guarantee benefits for doing so. Artists retain their own status and unemployment system.
The reform now still needs a second reading in committee and a vote by the full House of Representatives. The aim is to do so before the summer holidays.