Belgium: social partners conclude an agreement on the return to work for those on long-term illness leave as well as on economic unemployment

In the evening of 09 December, both unions and business leaders concluded an agreement over government proposals on both the return to work for those on long-term illness leave as well as on partial unemployment. Seen as far from what had initially been proposed the agreement may spark disagreement within the majority.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Details of the agreement concluded on the evening of 09 December by the Group of 10 (a social consultation forum gathering employers bodies and unions) remain unknown, as the social partners prefer to officially present them to the government before rendering them public. The agreement treats two subjects that the government had put to the social partners to address.

In fact the government is looking to lower the costs of state financed compensation for occupational disability, which according t

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: professional equality agreement signed in engineering and consulting sector
On 22 October, the Syntec and Cinov business organisations – representing France’s technical design, digital and consulting sectors (1.4 million employees) – signed a professional equality...
19 November 2025
EU: legislative deal struck to ease international recruitment in shortage occupations
On 18 November, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the regulation creating the so-called 'Talent Pool', a digital platform designed to ease recruitment in...
France: wage increases set to fall in 2026
Despite expectations of higher inflation next year – 1.8% compared with 1.3% in 2025 according to the OFCE, the French observatory of economic cycles – wage increases are set to slow...
18 November 2025
France: Adecco steps up commitment to temporary workers with disabilities
On 9 September, temporary work agency Adecco France and representative trade unions signed a new open-ended agreement to support the recruitment and retention of temporary workers with...
18 November 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: Decathlon introduces a ‘duty to respect others’ right to disconnect’
A right-to-disconnect agreement was signed in late September for the French arm of the Decathlon sports retail group. It sets out a "duty to respect others’ right to disconnect" and provides...
14 November 2025
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
4
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
5
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...
6
France: Adecco steps up commitment to temporary workers with disabilities
On 9 September, temporary work agency Adecco France and representative trade unions signed a new open-ended agreement to support the recruitment and retention of temporary workers with...
18 November 2025