The Minister of Employment, aware of the great difficulties that workers stranded abroad against their will may face, wishes to point out that in such situations it is possible to apply for temporary unemployment due to force majeure.
David Clarinval, Minister of Employment: “I wanted to reassure Belgian nationals stuck abroad due to the geopolitical situation by reminding them that they can activate temporary unemployment due to force majeure, whether they travelled for work or on holiday. A worker stranded abroad due to circumstances beyond their control should not be left without an income. The situation is already stressful enough without adding to the anxiety. This is precisely the kind of situation the temporary unemployment mechanism for force majeure exists for.”
Workers who, due to the closure or severe restriction of air traffic, are stranded at airports in other countries, such as Dubai International Airport or Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, and are therefore unable to fulfil their employment contract, can in principle apply for temporary unemployment due to force majeure.
This measure applies to workers who travelled for both private and professional reasons.