Social partners call on Flemish government to stall new policy

Flemish trade unions and employers, united as the Social and Economic Council of Flanders SERV, have advised the Flemish government to create a transitional phase during the implementation of the sixth round of state reform, in which existing regulations are transferred to the regions without modifications. This will create a platform for Flanders to move on to a second phase which will see the development of a new policy for the devolved powers. This method will ensure legal security and the preservation of expertise, the Serv believes.
The social partners further call on the Flemish government to engage in talks with the other regions and the federal government, especially in view of the implementation of a policy with respect to Brussels. Furthermore, the Flemish government should insist that the federal government clearly explains the reform of the special finance act which stipulates the redistribution of federal tax income among the communities and regions. “The Flemish government cannot adopt a wait-and-see attitude,” says the SERV that also stresses  the importance of deliberation with the social partners during this sixth round of state reform. The devolved powers job market policy, healthcare, child benefits constitute the social partners’ most crucial domains and they continue to echo their motto to involve the social partners in the social security and job market policy. On previous occasions they criticized the Flemish government as they felt excluded when The Flemish government drafted its proposition for a Flemish social security system and launched the preparation of the sixth state reform in September last year. It intends to submit a green paper by mid-2013 with propositions for the implementation of the devolved powers in 2014. It will more than likely be up to the next Flemish government to take this further when it takes office after the elections in May next year.