Flash inspections are unannounced checks to ensure compliance with social legislation and labour regulations. These inspections are intended to be preventive and informative, but the inspection services can still take strong action and issue fines if serious violations are discovered.
By announcing the inspections in advance, the inspection services aim to prevent social fraud and encourage companies to comply with the regulations at the last minute.
These flash inspections focus on companies in the food industry that handle meat preparations and/or meat-based products, fat melting, sausage making, slaughterhouses, and meat cutting workshops, as well as companies in the wholesale meat and poultry trade (CP 118.111, 118.112, 118.113, 118.114, 118.115, 119.010).
What does the inspection focus on?
Social inspectors will check for violations related to undeclared work (declaration to the NSSO) and illegal employment (work permits and occupation authorisation). They will also verify whether your company complies with the following obligations:
- The labour regulation, including all working hours and mandatory annexes (such as the psychosocial risks annex)
- Labour contracts and annexes (part-time contracts, student contracts, flexi, extra, temporary workers)
- The Dimona declaration
- Occupational accident insurance
- Temporary work contracts between the user and the temporary employment agency (if using temporary workers)
- Proof of daily attendance registration in the meat sectors for all individuals working in a slaughterhouse, cutting workshop, or meat preparation company who have received recognition from the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) for this purpose. These workers must be registered (administrative workers and visitors are not subject to this obligation)
Be aware that a copy of the labour regulation must be kept at each workplace, including in the professional vehicles or trucks used by your workers.
Inspectors will also check if the company employs self-employed workers.
The Social Information and Research Service (SIRS) provides you with a checklist of documents that a social inspector may request during an inspection.
This checklist offers a practical overview of the main documents that the inspection services may request during an inspection. However, this does not mean that the inspection does not have the right to request other documents that it considers useful for the investigation.
Our Advice
By preparing for these flash inspections, you can ensure that your company fully complies with the applicable legislation. Not only will you build a solid reputation, but you will also gain the trust of your clients and avoid potential sanctions or fines.
What does Securex do for you?
Is your labour regulation outdated? Or are you unsure whether you are correctly applying the working and remuneration conditions of your sector? Do not hesitate to contact your legal advisor and ask for assistance by sending an email to myHR@securex.be.
