Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Economy and Agriculture David Clarinval met the G10 this morning. This meeting was an opportunity to take a twofold stock. On one hand, the Arizona coalition ministers presented an overview of the ongoing work within social dialogue: probationary period, flexi-jobs, the Act containing various provisions II, upcoming issues such as the evaluation of the 1996 law, the right to strike or the mobility budget, raising the minimum wage to widen the gap between inactivity and work, the creation of a family time credit, defining a benefit standard, but also more structural issues such as combining purchasing power with competitiveness or modernising labour law to adapt it to the 21st century.
In this context, Minister Clarinval also recalled that the social partners have an essential role to play in implementing reforms.
On the other hand, an exchange took place on the federal budgetary situation, marked by a worrying trajectory of deficit and debt as well as by too weak economic growth.
Despite this demanding context, the positive developments must also be highlighted: thanks to the reforms already under way, an increase of +263,000 jobs is expected between 2025 and 2030, with stronger effects in Wallonia (+3.8%) and Brussels (+3.9%) than in Flanders (+2.9%).
David Clarinval: “I want to reaffirm the crucial importance of social dialogue. It is indeed essential that social dialogue and economic reforms go hand in hand to guarantee the sustainability of public finances and strengthen the competitiveness of the labour market. The conclusion is clear: we must act simultaneously to support job creation, reduce labour costs, strengthen activation and reintegrate the long-term sick. Only on this condition will we secure the financing of our social model and restore confidence in our economy. We invite the social partners to be an active partner in the government's reform agenda.”