Belgium Postpones Abolition of Disability Pension for Civil Servants

The Belgian government has announced the postponement of the planned abolition of the physical disability pension system for civil servants, which was originally set to take effect on April 1.

Pensions Minister Jan Jambon stated during a parliamentary committee session that the delay resulted from the time needed to review the Council of State’s opinion, which postponed the third reading of the bill in the cabinet.

The minister emphasized that the postponement is temporary and that the government remains committed to the reform, aiming to complete all legal procedures carefully before implementation.

The reform includes restructuring the public sector pension system, including the elimination of early retirement options due to physical disability.

The measure aims to unify social protection mechanisms between the public and private sectors, transferring employees deemed unfit for work to the disability insurance system used in the private sector.

This step is part of a broader plan to achieve greater equality among workers and reduce financial pressure on the pension system amid an aging population and increasing numbers of beneficiaries.

According to the government, the abolition will be implemented gradually by closing registration to new beneficiaries, gradually reducing the number of recipients until the system is fully phased out.

This phased approach is intended to avoid any direct impact on current employees while ensuring the continuation of their accrued rights.

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