Economic unemployment for non-manual workers: also in case of unforeseen circumstances

As from 2 June 2016, employers whose company is recognized by the Minister of Employment as being a company in difficulty, can make use of economic unemployment for their non-manual workers in an additional situation.

Current rules

In order to benefit from economic unemployment for his non-manual workers, the employer must demonstrate, among other conditions, that his company is in difficulty.

A company is considered to be in difficulty when it is in one of the following situations:

• it is faced with a substantial decrease of at least 10% in turnover, production or orders in one of the four quarters prior to the application for economic unemployment, compared to the same quarter of 2008 or one of the two calendar years preceding the application;
• it significantly makes use of economic unemployment for its manual workers.

As from 2 June 2016

As from 2 June 2016, employers may invoke an additional situation to make use of economic unemployment for their non-manual workers: the recognition by the Minister of Employment of their company as being a company in difficulty on the basis of unforeseen circumstances that will lead in the short term to a substantial decline in turnover, production or number of orders.

Source: Act containing various social provisions, Moniteur belge 23 May 2016.

Author: Catherine Legardien

26/05/2016