Opposition and trade unions criticise government’s reforms, employers more positive
The opposition parties and trade unions have strongly criticised the federal government’s summer agreement, consisting of important socio-economic reforms. Employers' organisations, however, are reacting more positively.
After a night of negotiations, the federal majority parties presented reforms in pensions, the labour market, healthcare and taxes on Monday.
“What this government is doing in less than six months is unprecedented in Belgium in this century,” prime minister Bart De Wever said. Earlier this week, De Wever also spoke in parliament of “the biggest socio-economic reforms of the century”.
The opposition parties are far from impressed, however. “This is a deluge of anti-social measures, an explosion of setbacks for employees, pensioners and the sick,” said parliamentary group leader Pierre-Yves Dermagne of PS.
His Groen counterpart, Stefaan Van Hecke, agreed: “Workers will have to bend over backwards for less pay, working late or early hours with unpredictable schedules.”
“Belgium is in danger of becoming the Wild West"
“Working must pay off, but these pension reforms hit those who make an important social contribution, such as stay-at-home mothers and fathers and informal carers, incredibly hard,” stated party leader Tom Van Grieken of Vlaams Belang.
“Belgium is in danger of becoming the Wild West, where the collective protection of workers, for which we have fought for years, is at risk,” warned PVDA/PTB parliamentary group leader Sofie Merckx.
“The enormous increase in tax-free overtime, the abolition of the ban on night work and the abolition of the minimum weekly working hours are just a few examples of the deterioration that [the federal government] wants to impose on workers.”
Union criticism
For Open VLD, on the other hand, the reforms do not go far enough. “Although certain reforms in the labour market and pensions are a step in the right direction, there has been another significant shift to the left,” said parliamentary group leader Alexia Bertrand.
“Eighty years of social progress in terms of working hours and pensions have been wiped out overnight,” said Ann Vermorgen, chair of the Christian trade union ACV.
“For employers, this is indeed the biggest socio-economic reform of the century, but for employees, there has never been such a rollback in the past 100 years,” added Bert Engelaar, chair of the socialist trade union ABVV.
"For employees, there has never been such a rollback in the past 100 year"
The liberal trade union ACLVB is more understanding. “The fiscal measures that boost purchasing power are very welcome, especially now that there is no wage margin,” said national chair Gert Truyens.
Level playing field
Employers' organisations reacted more positively. “The reform train has now definitely left the station,” said Pieter Timmermans of employers' organisation VBO. “Especially in the labour market, we are now taking a step towards a level playing field with our neighbouring countries so that our companies can offer their products and services in the same context as their competitors.”
“The new federal government has got off to a flying start"
“The new federal government has got off to a flying start and is implementing reforms that are good for the economy and our companies,” agreed Hans Maertens of Voka. But for Voka, there is still room for improvement. “Many measures need to be further developed.”
Entrepreneurs' organisation Unizo is “cautiously positive”. “The agreement contains certain concrete measures that represent a step forward for the self-employed and employers,” the organisation said.
Stefaan Van Hecke, parliamentary group leader of Groen © PHOTO BELGIAN FREELANCE