[Belgium] Proposed change to labour law so workers can be vaccinated

This week Pierre-Yves Dermagne - the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy - will raise with employers and unions the possibility of modifying the labour contracting law so workers who want to be vaccinated can request a special media permit day, Archyde reports.

In a January 17 interview on RTL television, the minister said, “The proposal I make to the social agents is to modify the labour hiring law, and in order to be able to vaccinate, to be able to request a special part-time permit as is already contemplated in other cases, such as an illness, a wedding or the death of a relative.”

Dermagne added that “under the circumstances, we have to remove all obstacles to vaccination” and added that “people should not lose money by going to be vaccinated.”

“It is important for the population as a whole, but also for the world of work (…) that companies ensure that their staff are vaccinated quickly,” he said.

Belgium started its vaccination campaign on December 28 and - in common with the other EU countries - is prioritising people who live in residential homes and health care workers, before offering the vaccine to the remaining population.

This week Pierre-Yves Dermagne - the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy - will raise with employers and unions the possibility of modifying the labour contracting law so workers who want to be vaccinated can request a special media permit day, Archyde reports.

In a January 17 interview on RTL television, the minister said, “The proposal I make to the social agents is to modify the labour hiring law, and in order to be able to vaccinate, to be able to request a special part-time permit as is already contemplated in other cases, such as an illness, a wedding or the death of a relative.”

Dermagne added that “under the circumstances, we have to remove all obstacles to vaccination” and added that “people should not lose money by going to be vaccinated.”

“It is important for the population as a whole, but also for the world of work (…) that companies ensure that their staff are vaccinated quickly,” he said.

Belgium started its vaccination campaign on December 28 and - in common with the other EU countries - is prioritising people who live in residential homes and health care workers, before offering the vaccine to the remaining population.