want to know more about our services or want to chat with our experts? Visit one of our offices near you.
Increase your chances of success with our experts' help.
Our experts will give you the answers you seek.
Alter your business details via our one-stop shop for entrepreneurs.
Discover our practical tool for your social insurance dossier.
Want to know more about our services or want to chat with our experts? Visit one of our offices near you.
and reap the benefits of our social secretariat's support.
Take advantage of Partena Professional's expertise and knowledge
Discover the benefits we can give you as an accountant.
To get to work commuters generally have to choose between several means of transport: personal or company car, public transport, cycling, walking, etc. In Belgium, with record traffic jams that are only increasing, the public authorities are trying to direct this choice towards more environmentally-friendly means of transport that do not increase congestion problems. One original solution to deal with this issue put in place in Antwerp and Brussels is the Waterbus.
The Waterbus is a boat that travels a set itinerary while marking several stops based on a predetermined timetable. So as the name would suggest, it’s like a bus, but on water. While tourists certainly like it, people going to work can also use it for their commute and avoid traffic jams.
In Antwerp, a Waterbus on the Scheldt has been connecting Steenplein to Hemiksem since July 2017, with year-round service. During the working week, the Waterbus service operates extended hours to suit commuters. Since 2013 a Waterbus has also been operating in Brussels on the Senne Canal, but in 2017 it was only operating from May to October. The frequency of these two Waterbuses and the number of stops have already increased, and will continue to do so in the future.
In this context, Kris Peeters asked the National Labour Council to determine whether the Waterbus can be considered public transport within the meaning of CLA no. 19 octies and if, therefore, its use must be reimbursed by the employer.
The response, published last week, is affirmative, meaning the general rules regarding public transport will also apply for the Waterbus. As such, the employers’ contributions will be different depending on whether the price is fixed or proportional to the distance travelled. In this respect please note that, already in 2018, the price of the Waterbus in Antwerp will become proportional to the distance travelled.
The contribution provided for by CLA 19 octies is an inter-sectoral minimum and numerous sectors provide for a more substantial reimbursement for public transport other than the train. You can find the provisions applicable to your joint committee in the sectoral information.
Source: National Labour Council opinion no. 2.060 of 28 November 2017.
Author: Laurence Philippe
08/12/2017
The Partena Professional website is a channel for making information available in an understandable form to affiliated members and non-members. Partena Professional strives to provide up-to-date information and this information is compiled with the greatest care (including in the form of Infoflashes). However, as social and fiscal legislation is constantly changing, Partena Professional cannot accept any liability for the correctness, the up-to-date or the completeness of the information consulted or exchanged via this website. Further provisions can be read in our general disclaimer that applies to every consultation of this website. By consulting this website, you expressly accept the provisions of this disclaimer. Partena Professional can unilaterally change the content of this disclaimer.