Brussels-Capital Region: new premium

The Government of the Brussels-Capital Region is introducing a new employment aid if you hire a person with a disability. This aid will be available from 1 July 2024, provided certain conditions are met.

Conditions to be met

The person you hire must meet the following conditions: 

• be an unemployed jobseeker with reduced capacity for work (see our Infoflash of 7 June 2024); 
• no longer be subject to full-time or part-time compulsory education;
• be below the legal pension age.

The employment contract can be concluded for an indefinite period or for a fixed term of at least six months. The working time must be at least half-time.

Certain types of hiring do not entitle you to the premium. These include, among others hirings:

• within the framework of a statutory relationship or 
• as an employee within an adapted work enterprise, who has a permit for an employment contract in an adapted work enterprise or who has an advice relating to collective adapted work; 
• as a replacement in the same position as a member of staff who was dismissed within the 6 months preceding that hiring; 
• if you have already hired this person in your company in the 12 months prior to their hiring date. 

Amount of the premium

The premium amounts to a lump sum of €5,000 (granted within the limits of available budget credits).

Your obligations

The premium is intended to promote the professional insertion of the unemployed jobseeker. It can cover all non-wage expenses related to hiring, These include among others: 

• the equipment of the employee's workstation to promote their professional integration; 
• the purchase of specific equipment for the correct performance of the employee's daily tasks; 
• the fit-out of your working environment to install or enhance facilities that may improve employee safety; 
• expenses related to the new employee's training or disability awareness campaigns provided to your entire staff;
• any other expenses aimed at supporting, facilitating and implementing conditions ensuring a successful entry of the employee into your company or supporting the employee in the performance of their job.

Procedure

You must submit your application for the premium online on the Actiris website. This must be done no later than 2 months after the start of the performance of the employment contract of the employee concerned.

Actiris will pay you the premium no later than 2 months after submitting the full application for the premium.

Within 12 months following the payment of the premium, you provide Actiris with an activity report detailing the initiatives taken to support the employee's professional insertion in your company, including guidance and proof of expenses incurred for this purpose.

Source: decree of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of 2 May 2024 introducing an employment aid for hiring a jobseeker with a disability, Belgian Official Gazette of 15 May 2024