The unemployment scheme with company supplement has been talked about a lot since Marc Leemans, president of the CSC/ACV (Christian union), announced that he is withdrawing by personal choice, but will still benefit from allowances. The Flemish right even speaking of “social fraud”. But what exactly is RCC?
Marc Leemans, aged 62, will step down as head of the CSC/ACV at the end of the year, after leading it for twelve years. This is a personal decision, but the Flemish press nevertheless points out that the president will nevertheless benefit from an early retirement system. In other words, he will indeed be dismissed in order to be able to have the compensation to which he would not be entitled in the event of voluntary departure. If the outcry is great in the north, the Christian union specifies that Leemans is entitled to the RCC regime “like everyone else”.
What is CCR?
It is an additional early retirement allowance now called company supplement for certain older workers who are made redundant.
To qualify, you must meet the following conditions:
– To be fired. It cannot therefore be applied at the end of a fixed-term contract, breach of contract for serious reason, resignation, breach of contract by mutual agreement and breach of contract for force majeure.
– Be eligible for unemployment and therefore be able to prove a certain professional past. To be entitled to the RCC, the employee must thus be able to justify 624 days of work during a period of 42 months preceding the request.
The starting age and the required professional background are specified in a collective agreement. But the age is generally fixed at 62 years and with a seniority (a professional past) of 40 years for a man and 39 years in 2023 and 40 years in 2024 for a woman.
There are derogatory regimes for certain sectors, trades or people.
Thus those who have worked at night, held a heavy trade or worked for an employer in the construction sector and have an incapacity for work certified by the occupational doctor can benefit from the RCC from the age of 60 and 35 years of career. As a reminder, work in successive shifts, work in interrupted service and work involving night shifts are considered to be heavy work. For workers who are less able or have serious physical problems, the RCC can even be granted to dismissed workers aged 58, who have a professional career of 35 years. Finally, there is also a long career RCC which can be granted to dismissed workers aged 60 and who have a professional career of 40 years.
How much is the RCC?
Unemployed persons with RCC generally receive the amount of their company supplement each month until they reach pension age (65).
The allowance under the unemployment scheme with company supplement consists of two parts. On the one hand the unemployment allowance (60% of the last gross salary capped) and on the other hand the company supplement. This generally amounts to half the difference between the net reference salary (ie the capped gross reference salary minus the personal social security contribution and the payroll tax) and the unemployment benefit. However, some collective labor agreements provide for a higher amount.
Under an RCC scheme, you must, in principle, be adequately available until the age of 65. But in practice, especially if you benefit from the RCC under this “62-year-old” scheme, you are exempted if you can prove a professional past of 43 years. All conditions can be found by clicking here.
