The recent changes affecting unemployment insurance exclusions have sparked concern across Belgium, impacting numerous municipalities. As of 2025-06-25 10:12:00, the reform notably targets 225 Walloon municipalities, all 19 Brussels municipalities, and six Flemish municipalities. This shift has raised questions about fairness and regional balance, especially for French-speaking and economically vulnerable areas.
- 225 Waalse gemeenten getroffen door uitsluiting
- Alle 19 Brusselse gemeenten zwaar geraakt
- Zes Vlaamse gemeenten ook deels uitgesloten
- Antwerpen heeft meeste absolute uitsluitingen
- Vier Brusselse gemeenten in top vijf
- Uitsluitingen vooral in Waalse en Brusselse gemeenten
Why are these exclusions concentrated in Wallonia and Brussels? The union describes this as a “community reform” disadvantaging the poorest municipalities in these regions. While Antwerp faces the highest absolute number of exclusions with over 10,000 people affected, the picture changes when looking at the percentage of residents excluded per municipality.
What does this mean for local communities? Four Brussels municipalities rank among the top five with the highest exclusion rates, highlighting a regional disparity that demands attention.
How should we interpret these figures? The data reveals a clear regional imbalance:
- Four Brussels municipalities—Sint-Joost-ten-Node, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Sint-Gillis, and the City of Brussels—are in the top five for exclusion rates, each with 4% of residents excluded.
- Liège joins this group, underscoring the impact on Walloon cities.
- 28 municipalities have a 3% exclusion rate, and 67 more show 2%, all within Brussels or Wallonia.
- Antwerp ranks 140th, with 1.8% of residents excluded, reflecting a lower relative impact despite high absolute numbers.
Looking ahead, policymakers must ask: how can Belgium ensure equitable social protections across all regions? Addressing these disparities is crucial to fostering inclusive economic recovery and social cohesion in the years to come.
