The budget agreement on which the core cabinet agreed on Tuesday morning leads to ‘mixed feelings’. For example, employers, trade unions and poverty organizations praise the way in which energy bills are being tackled. But on various other parts, or the lack thereof, criticism can be heard.
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As far as the labor market reforms are concerned, the employers’ organization VBO sees, among other things, good measures ‘in the activation of dismissal law and the greater mobility of job seekers between the regions’. A first step towards more flexible rules for e-commerce is also positive, although it is a ‘pity’ that reference is made to ‘the umpteenth survey or round table discussion’. As with technology federation Agoria, there is less enthusiasm about providing five free training days. ‘It makes training a pure mathematical exercise and goes against sectoral autonomy’.
Labor unions
A few unions have already reacted to the measures in the federal budget on Tuesday. The socialist union sees a number of positive points, but speaks of a missed opportunity for a fairer distribution of wealth. The liberal trade union mainly sees ‘a hodgepodge’ of labor market measures, the impact of which for the employee is not yet clear. The Christian ACV has not yet responded.
The ABVV sees a number of positive points, such as the measures for vulnerable families to reduce expensive energy bills, or the additional investment envelope of 1 billion euros by 2024. However, the negatives for the socialist union still weigh on the socialist union. For example, regarding the enforcement of the lifelong exemption from social security contributions for first hires and the expansion of night work in e-commerce.
The Liberal Confederation is even more cautious. The ACLVB primarily looks at the labor market measures that the government has decided. ‘They resemble a winter stew that is now served to the social partners in the autumn’, it sounds, although the union admits that there is still a lot of uncertainty about the exact implications for the employees. Many topics also need further discussion in the National Labor Council.
‘Sanctions go too far’
CM chairman Luc Van Gorp is positive about the focus on reintegration of the long-term sick, but would have preferred a different approach. ‘It is a great pity that sanctions have to be imposed on the long-term sick. It creates an atmosphere of mistrust about the reintegration processes that is not necessary for anything.’ According to CM, it is much more effective to focus on workable and viable work. This should prevent people from becoming ill for a long time. ‘Stigmatization does not contribute to better health’, it still sounds.
‘Structural measures needed’
The Belgian Network Poverty Reduction (BAPN) applauds that the federal government is making the fight against energy poverty a priority in the 2022 budget. ‘The fact that priority is given to keeping energy bills affordable for people in poverty is a fair decision’, according to coordinator Caroline Van der Hoeven.
Keeping energy bills affordable for vulnerable families by extending the social tariff and by granting the energy voucher is a good decision in the current context of rising natural gas prices, it says. At the same time, the organization argues for ‘more structural measures needed’. This concerns the sustainable anchoring of the social energy tariff and the expansion of the group of vulnerable families.
Test Aankoop is pleased that the social rate for energy bills has been extended, but is disappointed that there has been no VAT reduction for basic consumption of gas and electricity. The consumer organization is now calling on the regional governments to take steps, because a large part of the energy bill consists of regional levies and taxes. The middle class in particular is still left out in the cold, according to Test Aankoop.
‘Opportunities for greening are missing’
Although the federal government is taking steps with the new budget agreement, the major revolution has not yet occurred. That says Bond Beter Leefmilieu in a response on Tuesday. ‘With this agreement, the government is missing out on opportunities to make the economy greener more quickly.’ BBL also emphasizes on Tuesday that the additional climate investments will not be sufficient to achieve the climate objectives. ‘So this budget exercise is not the end of the line.’
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