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🇧🇪 Belgium /Elections & Politics

Belgian Alderman Slams Flexi-Job Ban for Local Officials

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A Belgian alderman is criticizing a new rule prohibiting local officials from holding flexible jobs.
  • The rule, effective July 1, prevents mayors, aldermen, and OCMW presidents from combining their mandates with flexi-jobs.
  • Aldermen argue the change makes local office less attractive and harder to combine with other work, especially given the unpredictable nature of municipal duties.

Maarten Forceville, an alderman in Herent, Belgium, has voiced strong opposition to a new regulation that bans local elected officials from participating in the flexi-job system. Effective July 1, the rule prohibits mayors, aldermen, and presidents of the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) from holding flexi-jobs alongside their official mandates.

As an alderman, you never know in advance how busy a week will be.

— Maarten ForcevilleAlderman in Herent, explaining the need for flexibility in outside work.

Forceville, who currently works 5 to 10 hours a week in the hospitality industry through a flexi-job, argues that the flexibility of this system is crucial for combining with his alderman duties. He explains that the demands of an alderman's role can be unpredictable, making a flexible part-time job essential. "As an alderman, you never know in advance how busy a week will be," he stated.

Beyond the financial benefits, which he acknowledges are welcome, Forceville emphasizes the importance of maintaining connections with other sectors. "It's always nice to earn a little extra," he said, noting that his alderman salary ranges from 2,900 to 3,300 euros per month, part of which he contributes to his party. "But I also do it so I can stay involved in the hospitality sector. I've been an alderman for 13 years, and I'm heading towards 18. What if this ends? What if my alderman position stops someday? Then it's important to maintain a connection with a certain sector, and for me, that's hospitality."

It's always nice to earn a little extra. But I also do it so I can stay involved in the hospitality sector. I've been an alderman for 13 years, and I'm heading towards 18. What if this ends? What if my alderman position stops someday? Then it's important to maintain a connection with a certain sector, and for me, that's hospitality.

— Maarten ForcevilleAlderman in Herent, discussing the dual benefits of his flexi-job in the hospitality industry.

Forceville further points out that this flexi-job ban is the third measure in a row making local mandates less appealing. Previous changes included pension reforms for local officials and the elimination of a special tax allowance. He warns that the new rule will force aldermen into part-time employment, which is much harder to reconcile with their public service due to fixed working hours and the difficulty of finding jobs that fit a 1/5 or 2/5 work schedule. This, he believes, makes the alderman role significantly less attractive.

If the flexi-job disappears, aldermen will be forced to work part-time as employees, and that is much harder to combine.

— Maarten ForcevilleAlderman in Herent, criticizing the practical implications of the new flexi-job ban for local officials.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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