There is a draft agreement 2019-2020 in joint subcommittee 149.03 (for precious metals)

On 22 May 2019, the social partners of joint subcommittee (JsC) 149.03 for precious metals concluded a draft protocol agreement. As stipulated in the Royal Decree of 24 April 2019 implementing Article 7 § 1 of the Act of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the preventive safeguarding of competitiveness, this agreement complies with the maximum negotiating envelope of 1.1% in 2019 and 2020.

Below, you will find a brief overview of the main subjects of the sector agreement. A detailed analysis will be included in our sectoral information.

Provisions with an impact on wages

Index mechanism

The existing index mechanism is maintained.

Increase in wages

On 1 October 2019, the scale and actual wages will increase by 0.6 %.

Meal vouchers

From 1 July 2019, the daily employer's contribution to meal vouchers will be increased by 1 EUR. As a result, the value of the meal voucher will be increased from 4.80 EUR to 5.80 EUR.

Supplementary pension

On 1 October 2019, an additional contribution of 300 EUR will be paid to the Sectoral Pension Fund from the FBZ reserves.

Bicycle allowance

As from 1 July 2019, the bicycle allowance will increase from 0.23 EUR to 0.24 EUR per kilometre travelled.

Short leave in the event of decease

The number of short leave days in the event of decease of a resident family member (cf. art. 3 § 2 first paragraph of the CLA 'short leave') increases from 3 days to 5 days.

The short leave days can be taken during a period of 30 days for all deaths.

Social Security Fund

On 1 July 2019, all additional allowances will be indexed by 4.11 %.

Additional allowance temporary unemployment

As from 1 July 2019, the additional allowance will amount to:

• 8.50 EUR/full unemployment benefit;
• 4.25 EUR/half unemployment benefit.

Introduction of wind-down time jobs

As of 1 July 2019, the system of wind-down time jobs will be introduced for employees aged 60 and over who switch from full-time employment to 4/5 employment. They will be entitled to a monthly allowance of 30 EUR.

Additional allowance for wind-down time jobs

From 1 July 2019, an additional allowance of 75 EUR (1/2 wind-down time job) and 30 EUR (1/5 wind-down time job) will be introduced:

• from the age of 60 for everyone;
• from the age of 55 for a 1/5 career reduction;
• from the age of 57 for a 1/2 career reduction.

Scheme of unemployment with corporate allowance (RCC/SWT)

The sectoral social partners sign all CLAs on RCC/SWT concluded in the National Labour Council (NLC), including the provisions on the possibility of exemption from availability:

• RCC/SWT long career 59 years subject to 40 years of occupational history;
• RCC/SWT from the age of 59 years, subject to 33 years of occupational history and 20 years of night work;
• RCC/SWT subject to 33 years of occupational history in a strenuous profession;
• RCC/SWT subject to 35 years of occupational history in a strenuous profession.

The additional allowance has been consolidated, i.e. the payment is made by the Social Security Fund.

Wind-down time jobs and time credit

The sectoral social partners sign the NLC collective labour agreement no. 137 on wind-down time jobs until 31 December 2020.

Employees with a long career or strenuous profession are entitled to:

• a 1/5 wind-down time job with benefits as from the age of 55;
• a half-time wind-down time job with benefits as from the age of 57.

The system of Flemish incentive bonuses is extended.

Flexible work

The existing CLA of 13 October 2015 on flexibility will be extended for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2021.

More information

This sectoral agreement will only become final after publication on the website of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue. We will keep you informed.

 

Source: Draft protocol agreement 2019 - 2020 Precious Metals Sector (JSC 149.03) - 22.05.2019