Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- On Wednesday, the Flemish Parliament approved the decree to give a job bonus of maximum 600 euros to employees with a low wage this year. Brussels residents who work in Flanders will not receive the job bonus, the proposal to let them also enjoy the measures did not make it.
The self-employed organisation Unizo, among others, had argued for this. According to BRUZZ, it is the perfect way to lead more Brussels residents to the Flemish labour market. There are currently a record number of unfilled vacancies.
The job bonus was a promise from the Flemish government. Employees who earn less than 1,800 euros gross per month will see 600 euros in their account by the end of this year. The job bonus applies to employees who earn up to 2,500 euros gross, but decreases as the wage increases. In the highest bracket, it concerns 20 euros per year.
Not for Brussels residents
The measure does raise questions. Labour experts doubt whether the job bonus will have a real effect on the employment rate in Flanders.
In addition, the job bonus in the workplace will make a distinction between Flemish people, who can enjoy it, and Walloons and Brussels residents, who are not entitled to it. In other words: a Fleming who works in Brussels will receive the job bonus, a Brussels citizen who works in Flanders will not.
Opposition parties such as Groen and Vooruit thought it a better idea to make the job bonus dependent on the workplace instead of the domicile. Minister of Work Hilde Crevits (CD&V) has explicitly not opted for this. The measure is intended to increase the activity rate of the inhabitants of the Flemish region, she said during the parliamentary discussion, and does not want to affect the Brussels labour market.
730.000
About 730,000 employees are eligible for it. The Flemish government is allocating 182 million euros for this year.
The vote in the Flemish Parliament is only a first step in the introduction of the Flemish job bonus. The government has yet to take implementing decisions. Moreover, the Flemish government is counting on the federal government to keep the sum tax-free. There has already been a commitment to this from Federal Minister of Work Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V), but there is still agreement within the federal government.
The Council of State is critical of the measure because, according to the Council, Flanders is moving too much into the territory of the federal government. According to Crevits, the legislation is robust enough to withstand possible appeals.
