Coronavirus: vital sectors: extension

The government has taken several measures to promote employment in vital sectors during this health crisis.

We have informed you about this in the following 3 Infoflashes (Infoflash of 4 May 2020, Infoflash of 7 May 2020, Infoflash of 13 May 2020).

These measures were in force until 30 June 2020.

They are now extended until 31 August 2020.

Reminder, the vital sectors are:

• the agricultural sector (JC 144) if the employee is employed on the employer’s land;
• the horticultural sector (JC 145), with the exception of planting and upkeep of parks and gardens;
• forestry (JC 146);
• the temporary agency sector if the employees are employed in the sectors mentioned above.

Source: Special Powers Decree No. 14 of 27 April 2020 implementing Article 5, § 1, 5°, of the Act of 27 March 2020 authorising the King to take measures in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 (II) to safeguard a smooth work organisation in the critical sectors, Belgian Official Gazette of 28 April 2020, prolonged by the Royal Decree No 45 of 26 June 2020 implementing Article 5, § 1, 5° of the Act of 27 March 2020 authorising the King to take measures in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 (II) extending certain measures, clarifying certain terms of the corona parental leave and of the consumption voucher, Belgian Official Gazette of 30 June 2020.

Royal Decree of 23 April 2020 temporarily relaxing the conditions under which the unemployed, with or without company supplement, can be employed in vital sectors and temporarily freezing decreasing full unemployment benefits, Belgian Official Gazette of 30 April 2020, prolonged by the Royal Decree of 15 July 2020 extending the measures taken in the field of unemployment as part of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 (I), Belgian Official Gazette of 17 July 2020.