Several measures come into effect this Wednesday, June 1. Here is a summary.
As every month, we briefly explain the measures that come into force at the beginning of the month. Here is a summary of what changes from this Wednesday, June 1st.
New salary increase in the civil service
Salaries in the public service are adapted to the cost of living and increase by 2% from June 1. The central index for social benefits and wages in the public sector was reached last April. The index should be reached again in October 2022 and then in February 2023, and should not be reached again before 2024, according to forecasts by the Federal Planning Bureau. Salaries in the civil service had already increased by 2% in February and April.
Doctors’ fees indexed by 2% on June 1
Doctors will see their fees increase by 2% from June 1, 2022. This intermediate indexation follows negotiations for the 2022-2023 medical-mutualist agreement. The Belgian Association of Medical Unions (Absym) had questioned the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (Inami) on the indexation of 0.71%, which did not take into account the inflation rate of December 2021 but accused rather a delay of six months. The Council of Ministers finally approved a one-off additional budget of 207 million euros to support healthcare providers during the sharp rise in inflation. Of this total amount, 112 million euros are intended for doctors, which represents an intermediate indexation of 2% of their
Local currency Ukrainian hryvnia can be exchanged in Belgium
From June 1, Ukrainian refugees registered in Belgium can convert banknotes denominated in hryvnias into euros at the counters of the National Bank of Belgium (BNB) as well as at the branches of the banks Belfius, Beobank, BNP Paribas Fortis, CBC, ING, KBC and KBC Brussels. A maximum amount of 10,000 hryvnias can be exchanged per adult and only notes of 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 hryvnias will be accepted. Proof of refugee status will be requested. This exchange of banknotes had required a legal agreement between the BNB and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) in order to fix the logistical modalities as well as the exchange rate to be applied. Belgium is one of the first member states of the European Union to offer Ukrainian refugees the opportunity to exchange banknotes for euros.
Entry into force of the sexual criminal law reform
The important reform of sexual criminal law, the result of long work in committee, comes into force this Wednesday, June 1. The bill aims to take into account the evolution of society and to place the notion of consent at the heart of the new legislation. Until now, sexual offenses were considered crimes and offenses against the order of families and public morals, as provided for in legislation dating from 1867. Sexual offenses will now belong to offenses against persons. Thus, the notion of indecent assault disappears while the notions of rape and voyeurism are expanded. Incest is also and finally mentioned in the law.
On the penal level, the sanctions are adapted, rape being punished by a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison, instead of 5 to 10 years. Conversely, for the sake of proportionality, the penalties for voyeurism are reduced. In certain circumstances, the judge will have the possibility of pronouncing alternative sentences to prison for the perpetrators of sexual offences. The bill also provides for the harmonization of the age of sexual majority at 16, with tolerance from the age of 14 in the event of consent and a maximum age difference of three years. It also decriminalizes prostitution, but not pimping, which will be punished by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 500 to 25,000 euros. Prostitution remains prohibited to minors. As for its , it is prohibited with a few exceptions. This reform of sexual criminal law is carried out by the Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne.
Orange increases some of its prices
Orange Belgium will increase some of its tariffs from 1 June. Customers of the telecommunications operator will, however, benefit from an increase in the amount of data and an extension of multi-card discounts. Concretely, the price of mobile subscriptions will undergo an increase of between 1 and 3 euros which will however be accompanied by an increase in data ranging from 0.5 to 10 GB. The prices of fixed products will also increase. Multi-card customers as well as customers who have a fixed Internet subscription will benefit from a reduction of 1 euro on their mobile subscriptions. The rates for out-of-bundle costs for mobile subscriptions, international calls and roaming will also be on the rise. The MMS will also become chargeable (0.24 euro) whereas it is currently free.
In Brussels, the reception program for newcomers becomes compulsory
The reception program for newcomers, which has existed in the Brussels Region since 2015, will become compulsory from 1 June for any person aged 18 to 65 who registers for the first time in the register of foreigners of a Brussels municipality and who has been legally resident in Belgium for less than three years. After receiving their residence permit, people have six months to register with a reception office. They then have 18 months to complete the course.
Concretely, the reception process includes support in the socio-administrative procedures; language courses; information on the rights and duties of everyone living in Belgium (10-hour module); citizenship training (50 hours). Visits are also organized to the Parliament, the municipal administrations, Actiris, the BelVue Museum and the Migration Museum. The reception routes are organized in Brussels by three French-speaking Newcomer Reception Offices (BAPA) supported by the municipalities of Schaerbeek, Molenbeek, Forest and the City of Brussels. These BAPAs have a support capacity of 5,500 people. On the Dutch-speaking side, the Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering is in charge. It has a support capacity of 4,000 people.