A social security claim submitted by Prince Laurent of Belgium has been deemed unfounded by the Brussels Labour Court on Monday.
The case involved the National Institute for the Social Security of the Self-employed (Inasti) and the Union of Middle Classes (UCM) against Prince Laurent regarding his eligibility for social security coverage.
The court’s decision followed a hearing held on 25 November. Prince Laurent, who views himself partially as a self-employed worker, sought permission from the judge to receive social security coverage for himself, his wife, and his children.
Prince Laurent’s defence lawyer, Olivier Rijckaert, described the 23-page decision as “complex” and “well-motivated,” highlighting some positive aspects. The court acknowledged that the prince carries out a range of professional activities for the State but noted he cannot be classified as self-employed because his roles are supervised and he must report back, which contradicts the independent status.
The judgment also emphasised that Prince Laurent’s activities cannot be considered professional activities without a formal status under regulations. According to Rijckaert, this implies the prince is a statutory officer, an agent of the State. The tribunal suggested that for members receiving a State grant, their status should be similar to that of parliamentarians, enabling them to subscribe to healthcare coverage using the operational expense part of their grant.
Another aspect of the judgment addressed pension rights, including retirement and survivor benefits, in the event of Prince Laurent’s demise before his wife Claire. The court found the State grant status remains incomplete in certain aspects, highlighting a gap in pension provision as currently, the years served cannot be capitalised, and the grant can be revoked at any time. The court recognised a deficiency in pension rights but stated it is up to the legislature to address this gap, providing no timeline for such reforms, which may be slow in Belgium.
The prince and his counsel must still scrutinise the judgment in greater detail, but Rijckaert noted there is some satisfaction on these two critical points. They will now evaluate further actions, including a potential appeal to secure independent status or other measures for state recognition of his professional status.
