A measure for white-collars only: the suspension of the labor contract. The last measure developed by the government is sort of like economic unemployment for blue-collar workers. "Before, there were no measures adapted to white-collar workers for working time reductions due to economic reasons" explains Anne Demelenne, FGTB general secretary. Now, employers can propose a total suspension of the labor contract for a maximum of 16 weeks each year, or a partial suspension of 26 weeks each year maximum. In this case, the worker will have to keep working at least two days a week. With this new system, employees will receive 70-75% of gross wages - with a monthly limit of €2,206. Claude Rollin (CSC) views this as "progress since we obtained for workers, in addition to these benefits, a supplement at least half as important as what blue-collar workers get for economic unemployment.” However, for the general secretary, this is only a “partial advancement since the single status issue is far from being settled.”
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se. The measures proposed by Minister of Employment Joelle Micquet will be applied in 2009 and extendable once until June 30, 2010. Two measures concern both blue-collar and white-collar workers, and only concerns white-collar workers only.

Measures for all workers. Currently, private and public businesses which, for an undetermined period, chose reduced working time or the four-day week already saw their employers’ contributions cut. “The problem with this measure is that it only works for unde

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