Belgium's Chamber of Representatives voted on Wednesday on some 35 bills, the last ones remaining for the current legislature. While many were technical, some introduced substantial reforms.
These include a draft law providing a comprehensive legal framework designed to enhance voluntary community service. Youths aged 18 to 25 can now volunteer in fields such as healthcare, culture, or education and earn up to €550 per year. The new law establishes a Citizen Service Agency with an annual budget of €7.5 million.
Another bill would help save debtors from being caught up in a spiral of debt. Bailiffs will now be obliged to consider the financial capacity of individuals before initiating proceedings. They will also have to point out mediation possibilities. Additionally, their tariffs have been simplified.
Private detectives and personal data protection laws
Regulations governing private detectives have been tightened. They are now required to comply with legislation protecting personal data, and must ascertain whether a client’s interest is objectively justified before accepting an assignment.
Judges will soon be able to order persons banned from driving to take remedial driving courses. These courses could provide an alternative to retaking theoretical and practical driving tests or might be enforced additionally.
The Chamber endorsed a new linguistics regulation for the Brussels Prosecutor’s Office to allow a full-fledged prosecutor to be appointed in the capital after more than three years.
Making nursing more appealing
Foreign healthcare professionals wishing to work in Belgium will now need to speak and understand at least one of the country’s three official languages. Proficiency levels depend on the post sought, with doctors expected to display a higher level than nursing assistants, for example.
Nursing is to be transformed to make it more appealing, including by allowing nursing assistants to perform certain additional functions.
The Psychologists Committee is to be revamped to function more transparently and efficiently. Affiliated psychologists will elect committee members directly, and clinical psychologists will have increased representation.
New rules on long-term sick leave
Public servants on long-term sick leave will no longer be sent on permanent retirement on medical grounds. Rather, they will be medically monitored and supported to return to work on a case-by-case basis.
Instead of a sickness pension, they will receive reduced benefits that can be combined with work or independent activities. The number of public servants to whom this applies is estimated at 2,000 to 4,000, of whom about 1,000 are under the age of 50.
Tougher procurement rules
Residents of apartments with communal gas boilers will now qualify for social energy tariffs. This will benefit some 60,000 households.
An appended amendment to this proposal allows the government to slash transmission tariffs for heavy users. According to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, this is a significant step in securing a planned multi-billion investment by ArcelorMittal in Ghent.
Businesses that fail to comply with public procurement rules will face fines up to €7,000, or even €56,000 when surcharges are added. They could also be banned from competing for public contracts for three to five years.
On amending the constitution
The Chamber also requested the government to recognise 15 July as an annual national day of remembrance for climate victims.
Finally, the Chamber gave the green light to the articles of the Constitution that can be amended by a two-thirds majority in the next legislature. This is the list of some 20 articles on which the government reached agreement last week, including the famous Article 195, which paves the way for the revision of the entire Constitution.
