Belgium Implements Unemployment Reform Law with Major Changes to Benefits and Labor Market

Belgium is entering a new phase in employment policy with the rollout of the unemployment reform law, aimed at reorganizing the benefits system and encouraging job seekers to reintegrate into the labor market more quickly.

The law introduces significant changes to how unemployment benefits are administered, including revisions to benefit duration and payment amounts, alongside stricter monitoring of compliance with active job search requirements.

This reform is part of a federal government plan to reduce unemployment rates and shorten long-term reliance on social assistance, amid growing economic pressures and challenges facing public finances.

The new law emphasizes enhanced training and professional rehabilitation programs, requiring beneficiaries to accept job offers suited to their qualifications or participate in approved training courses, with the goal of accelerating their return to work.

Authorities stress that the reform is not intended to cut social support but to redirect it so that it is more closely linked to actual employment opportunities, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the social protection system.

The law is expected to spark extensive debate among trade unions and economic circles, particularly regarding its impact on vulnerable groups, while the government maintains that the measure is necessary to achieve a better balance between social support and employment incentives in Belgium.

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