The price of the railcard has been increased: what are the consequences?

On 1 February 2018, the price of the NMBS railcard will go up by 2.49%. What impact does this increase have on the employer’s requirement to contribute toward the transport costs?

Collective bargaining agreement No. 19octies: a minimum requirement

The employer’s financial contribution toward the price of the transport of the employees is provided for by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) No. 19octies which was concluded in 2009. The employers are obliged to pay a contribution when their employees use the train and/or other means of public transport for their commuting trips. In the latter case, the contribution is only mandatory when the distance between their residence and their place of work is at least 5 kilometres.

This CBA has converted the contribution into a grid of flat-rate amounts according to the distance travelled. In 2009, these amounts corresponded to an average of 75% of the railcard's cost price. This CBA remained unchanged. Therefore, the amounts stipulated by it remain unchanged.

Sectoral requirements often prevail

This agreement of the National Labour Council applies in a suppletive capacity, this means it establishes a minimum requirement. The majority of the sectors has concluded CBAs laying down more far-reaching requirements for the employers: higher amounts, contribution for the use of a private vehicle, bicycle allowance ...

For the sectors referring to the amounts of CBA No.19octies, the contribution has remained unchanged on 01 February 2018.

However, other sectors directly refer to the amounts of the railcard. In view of the increase of the fares, the amounts granted to the employees in these joint committees will go up on 1 February 2018. This is particularly the case for all employees who benefit from a third-party payer agreement (the employer pays a contribution of 80% of the price of the railcard, the state pays the remaining 20%). 

The transport costs within my sector

Please refer to the sectoral documentation for detailed information on the amounts to be granted per joint committee. This documentation indicates the contribution toward the transport costs per means of transport used, regardless of whether this is based on the CBA No. 19octies, the amounts of the railcard or a sector-own scale.

Source: Collective bargaining agreement No.19 octies of 20 February 2009 with regard to the employer’s financial contribution toward the price of the transport of employees (reg. No. 91.503 - RD 28.06.2009 - Belgian Official Gazette 13.07.2009).

Author: Laurence Philippe

24/01/2018