No more permanent appointments at NMBS

With a view to modernising Belgium’s national railway company NMBS and allowing it to operate more efficiently, the N-VA wants to phase out permanent appointments. The staff may retain their status, but new people may only be recruited with a contract.

Too many expensive benefits are connected to the current status, meaning the NMBS is insufficiently competitive. The rail company is therefore currently significantly more expensive than those of other European countries.

Spending tax money well

There is an average of 1 HR staff member for each 25 staff members at the rail company. In other companies, this ratio is on average 1 to 100 staff members. In addition, the NMBS cannot compete with its European competitors, due to its 36-hour working week, its over 50 days of leave and an extensive range of benefits and compensations - all the result of this status. Belgian rail is therefore not ready at all for the liberalisation of the European rail market in 2026. If we want to have a more modern and more productive rail before the European deadline, it’s now that we’ve got to put in some extra effort.

The N-VA laments that the rail unions refuse to agree with those necessary reforms. Still, efficient rail companies are the best guarantee for tax money being spent well.