Unizo looks into universal income for Belgian residents
The referendum that failed this week in Switzerland has got other European countries curious, and the Flemish organisation that represents the self-employed is looking into the possibilities
Universal income
It is the same concept that was rejected by voters in a referendum in Switzerland last weekend. Van Eetvelt (pictured) said that his contacts with freelance workers shows that the large majority are making enough to get by; their main anxiety is for what might happen in the future. “The biggest obstacle for a future entrepreneur seems to be the lack of a safety net. Well, why not take that worry away?”
The study will look into questions like who should be covered by the basic income scheme, how much it should be and how it will be paid for. “I’m calling on politicians and social partners to do the same,” Van Eetvelt said. Meanwhile unions are divided, with Christian ACV in favour of opening the debate and socialist ABVV worried the measure might undermine social security.
Photo courtesy Unizo
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