28 Mar '17

Job leave, day care and mortgages: Regulation changes on 1 April

Summary

Some of the new laws and regulations that come into force at the weekend should improve transparency for consumers

New on the books

A number of new federal and regional regulations come into force on 1 April, including job leave, property management and bankruptcies.
 

Employees may no longer apply for a leave of absence – time taken off work outside of official vacation, holidays or sick leave – except to care for sick children or relatives. Leave for those reasons will be limited to 51 months over one’s career. The agreement was reached last year by the National Labour Council.

Previously, workers could request a leave of absence for any reason at all, and part of their salary would be paid by the government. The government allowance was halted in 2015.

Also from 1 April, property management firms representing tenants or owners of apartments must be registered with the federal economy ministry. Existing firms have one year to register.

Dossiers concerning the bankruptcy of a company can now be managed online, allowing administrators, legal representatives and creditors to exchange documents digitally.

All day care facilities in Flanders with more than 18 places must published a handbook describing the quality of the services they provide. Existing organisations have two years to comply.

Banks are henceforth obliged to advertise the total cost of any mortgage offered, including those other than interest, such as administrative fees and insurances. The idea is to allow customers to compare different offers more easily.

Photo: Ingimage

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Government of Flanders

Belgium is a federal state with several regional governments. The northern, Dutch-speaking region of Flanders is governed by the Flemish government, which was created when the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community joined forces in 1980. A minister-president presides over the government of Flanders, and Brussels is the capital city.
Competences - The government of Flanders is responsible for the economy, foreign trade, health care, energy, housing, agriculture, environmental concerns, public works and transport, employment policy, culture, education and science and innovation. Flanders also has the power to sign international treaties in these competencies.
Sole legislator - The powers of the Flemish government and of the federal government do not overlap. Therefore, only one government serves as legislator for each policy area. Flemish laws are called decrees. Decrees apply in co-ordination with federal laws.
Official holiday - 11 July is the official holiday of the Flemish Community, in commemoration of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk on 11 July 1302, when Flemings defeated the army of the French king. Flanders’ official anthem is “De Vlaamse Leeuw” (The Flemish Lion).
6

million people live in the Flemish Region.

5

provinces constitute the Flemish Region: West Flanders, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Antwerp and Limburg.

5

number of years for which the Flemish Parliament is elected. Its elections coincide with those of the European Parliament.

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