According to the barometer of the Union des Classes Moyennes, half of Walloon entrepreneurs consider the economic situation to be very worrying. The energy crisis complicates our daily lives every day. Experts speak of a recession, massive job losses, five to ten difficult winters. In short, according to them, we are bogged down in the crisis. Trade is getting ready for scarcity, especially in Wallonia and Brussels.
Georgy, manager of Friterie Chez Georgy in Chêneeis “on the edge of the abyss“. He spoke on the set of Cisn’t every day Sunday. The situation is also very difficult for his brother who has a bakery in the same street as him.
Georgy no longer earns money because of the crisis. His electricity bills have doubled and he fears the next regularization bill.
To try to get by, the Walloon empties his savings account and works 80 hours a week. It stays open as late as possible to get as many customers as possible. possible. But he continues to lose money. “Since October, I lose 1000 euros per month while I work“, he specifies.
Georgy doesn’t think he can sustain this pace long term. “We will have to find solutions. I’m completely exhausted, but I can’t afford to hire anyone. I do not have a choice“, he confides on the set.
The crisis that the country is going through is of great concern to the deep fryer. “At some point, we have a knife to our throat. We have bills falling on us“, he launches.
“We are heading towards an apocalyptic situation“
A barometer from the Union des Classes Moyennes shows that 5 out of 10 Walloon and Brussels entrepreneurs consider the situation to be very worrying.
David ClarinvalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Middle Classes, the Self-Employed and SMEs, explains that we are heading towards massive job losses in 2023. According to him, the state of businesses has never been so bad.
“Is receive hundreds of messages from freelancers who not only suffer from this crisis energy but who have already had the covid crisis beforehand, and in Liège the floods“, he explains.
“If we do nothing more, we are heading towards an apocalyptic situation in terms of layoffs and job losses. Today, the federal government has put a lot of indirect measures on the table. I think the regions have to do their part.“