Europe leaves Flemish construction workers out in the cold

The European Parliament is introducing new rules for temporary employment abroad (secondment). For Europe, equal work in the same place must result in the same wages. However, a shortening of the secondment period in, among other things, the construction and cleaning sectors, is not on the cards despite massive abuse. “This means that Europe is retaining a system of unfair competition and leaving the Flemish construction worker out in the cold,” says MEP Helga Stevens.

The compromise reached is intended to reconcile the positions of Western and Eastern Europe, but doesn’t solve the problem of social dumping. “Under the guise of secondment, Eastern European workers are being permanently deployed on the Belgian labour market. They can pay their Social security Social security is currently managed at the Federal level in Belgium. The most important pillars of Belgian social security are: sickness and invalidity insurance (NIDHI), pensions, unemployment insurance and child allowances. In addition, occupational illness, occupational accidents and annual holidays are dealt with at this level. Some Flemish parties have been campaigning for years for (large parts of) social security to be transferred to the Regions and Communities. social security contributions in their home country for two years,” Helga Stevens says. “In recent years, thousands of Flemish construction workers have lost their jobs as a result, for the simple fact that they are more expensive. The N-VA is of the opinion that capping secondment at six months is vital to remedying this unfavourable situation.”

Helga Stevens is however pleased that the European Parliament is open to extended secondment in non-risk sectors. For example, in the case of wind farm construction - projects that often exceed 24 months - a restricted secondment would hold back our open and export-oriented Flemish economy. “After all, we shouldn’t lose sight of how secondment also brings prosperity to Flanders,” Helga Stevens concludes.