Sectoral agreement 2019 - 2020 for joint industrial committee 226
The social dialogue in Belgium is organized on 3 levels: inter-sectoral/federal, sectoral and company level. At the end of April of this year, the wage norm and several employment measures which serve as the basis for the negotiations on a sectoral level, have been determined on a federal and inter-sectoral level,.
Within JIC 226 these negotiations have been finalized at the end of June, resulting in a sectoral agreement for the years 2019-2020 (valid from 01.01.2019 until 31.12.2020). We would like to provide you hereby with an overview of the most important decisions for the upcoming two years in your sector of industry.
1. Wages
Increase of the actual salaries, the minimum wages and the baremic wages on company level with 1,1% as from 01.07.2019. With this increase, JIC 226 uses the maximum salary cost development that was laid down by the Belgian government.
2. Mobility
Increase of the cycling allowance from 0,23 to 0,24 EUR/km as from 01.02.2020.
Increase of the employer’s participation to commuting costs (bus, underground, tram or Waterbus) to 80% as from 01.02.2020.
3. Time credit and unemployment scheme with company allowance
For time credit on specific grounds, JIC 226 applies the general rules as they are applicable in collective labour agreement n° 103. This implies that employees will benefit from 51 months of time credit for reasons of care taking and from 36 months for training purposes, given that they meet the conditions.
For time credit in view of landing positions (career wind-down), JIC 226 foresees the possibility to suspend the employment agreement as from the age of 57 by half, or by 20% as from the age of 55 and benefit at the same time from a statutory allowance if the conditions thereto are met.
There are additional allowances paid by the social fund of the sector for the different types of time credit in view of a career wind-down.
As far as the unemployment scheme with company allowances is concerned, this system is possible as from the age of 59 for a long career with night work, for a heavy and arduous profession and for the very long career (40 years) according to the conditions as determined on a sectoral level.
4. Leave of absence
As from 01.07.2019, mourning leave will be extended from 3 to 5 days in case of a decease within the family of a family member of the first grade (spouse, child, mother or father).
5. Possibility of replacement of sectoral holidays
Starting 01.01 2020, employers in JIC 226 have the possibility to replace the 4 existing sectoral holidays with an equivalent benefit by concluding a collective labour agreement on a company level.
6. Impact temporary agency work
For employment contracts concluded as from 01.07.2019 onwards, the employment as a temporary agency worker performed in the period of 24 months immediately preceding the employment contract in the same company, is taken into account for the wage-scale seniority as well as the seniority leave.
7. Youth holidays
As from holiday reference year 2019 (holiday year 2020), full-time working employees who take youth holidays are entitled to an additional premium of 30 EUR per day. The employer pays the premium, but can reclaim this from the Social Fund.
