Is the streamlined application process for economic unemployment benefits for white-collar workers nearing its conclusion?

What is the current status of the simplified procedure?

Collective agreement no. 172 establishes a simplified procedure for economic unemployment applicable to your white-collar workers. This procedure enables you, as an employer, to place your white-collar workers on economic unemployment without a company collective agreement or business plan. Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, several collective agreements have been established to facilitate the use of this simplified procedure.

The duration of the most recent agreement, collective agreement no. 172, expires on 30 June 2025. A new collective agreement may be negotiated by the social partners within the National Labour Council (NAR). However, at this time, it is highly uncertain whether the social partners, representing both employers and employees, will reach a new collective agreement in a timely manner.

This situation implies that just over five years after the commencement of the coronavirus crisis, the simplified procedure for applying for economic unemployment for your white-collar workers may come to an end.  

What does this mean for you as an employer?

The simplified procedure could still be extended. However, implementing economic unemployment for your white-collar workers through a company collective agreement or a business plan requires some time.

As an employer, you should therefore take precautions and initiate the necessary steps to ensure the continuation of economic unemployment for your white-collar workers from 1 July 2025. Submitting a request based on collective agreement no. 172 to cover the period after 30 June is not feasible. If the simplified procedure is not extended, you will no longer be able to rely on economic unemployment through this simplified procedure for your white-collar workers after 30 June 2025, even if you have already utilised economic unemployment for them until that date.

Our tip

If you anticipate needing to rely on economic unemployment for your white-collar workers from 1 July 2025, it is advisable to conclude a company collective agreement or submit a business plan as soon as possible.

What does Securex do for you?

If you require further information regarding economic unemployment for your white-collar workers, you can find it in our file on Lex4You.

If you need assistance in drafting the company collective agreement or the business plan, please contact our Securex lawyers at myHR@securex.be.

Source

• Collective agreement no. 172 of 30 May 2023