2023-10-10 16:21:20
The Union of Middle Classes (UCM), an employers’ organization representing the self-employed and SMEs, welcomed the federal government’s budget adopted on Monday in a press release on Tuesday. She mentions “one step forward“, particularly regarding the expansion of flexi-jobs to more sectors.
“The federal government has not increased the tax burden on self-employed people whose shoulders are already (too) loaded“, rejoiced the UCM. The employers’ organization points out as another satisfaction the expansion of flexi-jobs to new sectors which will “allow us to respond (in part) to the employment crisis“. However, she recalls her request for an interfederal plan to combat the lack of labor, with an even greater expansion of the sectors concerned by flexi-jobs.
The UCM also welcomes the announcement of a bonus of 1,750 euros granted in the event of long-term sick people returning to work. An envelope of 4 million euros is also planned for the “Icarius” project, intended for mental health prevention for the self-employed. “This is a step towards real consideration of prevention“, reacts the organization, which adds its satisfaction with the government’s decision to apply the agreement around the minimum wage, which will be increased from April 1, 2024.
For its part, Fevia also reacted positively to the budget agreement. The Belgian federation of the food industry welcomes the absence of additional taxes on food and the extension of the flexi-jobs regime.
Fevia had called on the federal government to avoid taxes and other charges that would increase the price of food and drinks for households, encourage cross-border shopping and harm the competitiveness of Belgian businesses. “Despite budgetary efforts, this objective was achieved“, rejoices the sectoral federation.
The organization has also been advocating for the extension of flexi-jobs for some time.
With the budget agreement, workers in several sub-sectors of the food industry are now also eligible for the system, which makes it possible to adapt to variations in production depending on harvests or seasonal activities, underlines Fevia.
According to the federation, flexi-jobs will not solve the shortage in the sector but constitute an “eextra effort welcome“.
It also calls for a further extension to other sub-sectors and to all employees.
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