Coronavirus: incentive bonus

In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the federal government has taken a number of measures that significantly affect a large number of companies. In order to meet this need, the Flemish Government provides for a temporary modification of the incentive bonus for companies in difficulty or undergoing restructuring.

For whom?

Employees who reduce their working hours with employers in the Flemish Region who observe a substantial decrease in the economic activities (20%) of the company as a result of the impact of the Corona virus measures.

The employer must draw up a plan demonstrating this decline in the company's economic activities due to the impact of the coronavirus measures.

That plan must contain the following information:

• the indication of the labour redistribution measures and the link with the impact of the coronavirus measures   
• the indication of the number of jobs affected by the measures;
• the indication of the period of the measures;
• the VAT returns for all months.

The plan must be approved by the works council or, failing that, by the trade union delegation or, failing that, by the committee for prevention and protection at work or, failing that, it must be incorporated into the labour regulations.

This extension of the incentive bonus only applies for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2020. The application must always be made in full months.

Please note that this is not an additional bonus on top of the benefits under the scheme of temporary unemployment.

How much?

The bonus depends on the working hours and the reduction in working hours applied:

Please mind that different amounts apply for the Flemish social profit sector.

How to apply?

The bonus can be applied for in writing or online. You can apply online via:

https://www.vlaanderen.be/aanmoedigingspremies/aanmoedigingspremie-aanvragen

More information

For more information about this bonus, please visit the website of the Flemish government.

Source:

• https://www.vlaanderen.be/aanmoedigingspremie-bij-onderneming-in-moeilijkheden-privesector
• Decree of the Flemish government of 18 March 2020 amending the decree of the Flemish Government of 1 March 2002 on the reform of the system of incentive bonuses in the private sector and of the decree of the Flemish government of 3 May 2002 introducing the incentive bonuses in the Flemish private social profit sector, Belgian Official Gazette, 24 March 2020.