Jean-Paul Rouwez, the carillonneur of Chimay, has been holding the position for 45 years. He performs on the first Sunday of every month, as well as on special occasions. His main motivation for performing is to elevate the atmosphere of the area. The city of Chimay pays him roughly 1200 euros annually, but the recognition he receives is worth more to him than the money. However, he recently discovered that he hasn’t been paid for two years. This seemed to coincide with the arrival of a new financial director at the city, who stopped paying him without any written contract or agreement.
A work contract drawn up 300 years ago… to unlock today’s salary. This is the (mis)adventure of the Chimay carillonneur, Jean-Paul Rouwez. He has held the position of carillonneur for 45 years. He plays every first Sunday of the month, at parties, when he wants too. “I like to animate the square when the terraces are full“, confides Jean-Paul Rouwez.
For this work, the city of Chimay pays him around 1200 euros each year. “I don’t do this for the money but it’s a form of recognition“. And this recognition, it had not taken place for 2 years. “By chance, I realized that I hadn’t been paid for 2 years.“, says the carillonneur. The stoppage of payments more or less corresponds to the arrival of the new financial director at the City of Chimay. Finding no agreement, no written “contract”, she simply stopped paying the carillonneur .
In a world where contracts are meticulously scrutinized, it’s hard to believe that a work agreement drawn up 300 years ago could have any relevance today. But as the story of Jean-Paul Rouwez, the Chimay carillonneur, shows, sometimes it’s the simplest agreements that are the most enduring. For 45 years, Jean-Paul has played the bells of Chimay with joy and dedication, never once thinking about the money he earned–until it suddenly vanished. Thanks to a bit of detective work and a healthy dose of tenacity, Jean-Paul was able to reclaim the salary he was owed and continue his beloved work. It’s a reminder that while work may change and evolve, the bonds between employer and employee can endure through generations. And who knows–maybe in 300 years, someone else will be drawing up a contract to pay the next Chimay carillonneur.