Employers will be required to compensate commuters' journeys to and from work by at least 71.8% from 1 June, up from the current 56%.
The proposal was approved by trade unions and employers at the National Labour Council (CNT) on Monday, and Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Écolo) announced the reform on Tuesday. The Federal Government will supplement a further 7.5% for employees' journeys, bringing the total to 79.3%.
As it stands, the majority of workers have their entire journeys compensated by their employer (80%) and the Federal Government (20%). However, almost 100,000 commuters will benefit from this new arrangement, according to a press release from Gilkinet's cabinet.
"This improved package has a noticeably positive impact," stated Gilkinet. "For the citizens concerned, it translates into a net benefit of up to several hundred euros each year for long distances."
Price hikes
National railway operator SNCB's ticket fares increased by 5.9% on 1 February 2024 in the context of rising inflation. The latest CNT agreement takes further price hikes into account – until 2029.
Once the changes are implemented on 1 June, employees are obliged to cover the same proportion of fares until 2029. If SNCB raises its prices again, the employer will cover an additional 1%. The employee and employer will share the excess if it lies between 1% and 2.5%, and above this, the employee will not receive compensation.
The last round of price hikes were criticised by regular train passengers, with some students organising a party on board a train in protest of the changes.
"Faced with growing insecurity, particularly as students, many of us can no longer afford the cost of a ticket on the SNCB," President of the Federation of French-Speaking Students Emila Hoxhaj told Belga News Agency at the time.
