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Articles by Van Olmen
European Commission clarifies the Pay Transparency Directive in a FAQ
EU Member States had to transpose the European Pay Transparency Directive into national law by 7 June 2026. The Directive aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for women and men performing equal work or work of equal value. To achieve this goal, it grants additional rights to workers and job applicants and gives them more tools to identify and challenge gender-based pay discrimination. The practical application of the Directive has nevertheless raised many questions.
Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and associated risk factors in a rural community in Western Kenya: a population-based cross-sectional survey
Background Hypertension and diabetes are rising causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, yet rural community-level data remain limited. National surveys often obscure local variation, hindering targeted prevention. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Kakum-Kombewa, Siaya County, Kenya (Dec 2024-Jun 2025). Multistage sampling identified 816 households, yielding 1,046 adults aged ≥ 18 years.
Population-based screening for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes risk among migrant origin and ethnic minority groups in Europe: a scoping review
Introduction Although some migrant origin groups in Europe show elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), information is sparse and fragmented. This study examines availability and possibilities for harmonization of health examination survey (HES) data on major determinants of CVD and T2D among migrant origin and ethnic minority groups in EU Member states and EU4Health associated countries (Norway, Iceland, Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro).
Public sector: Supreme Court confirms that competence to dismiss includes competence to dismiss for serious cause
On 9 March 2026, the Belgian Court of Cassation held that where a municipal council has the power to hire and dismiss staff, it may delegate that dismissal power to the municipal executive college, and that delegation also covers dismissal for serious cause unless the delegation provides otherwise.
A novel model of care; Telemedicine and peer support for HCV care among HIV-infected people who inject drugs in remote Myanmar: a retrospective study
Background People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Uncontrolled HCV infection contributes to ongoing transmission among PWID, underscoring the urgent need to expand access to treatment as a public health priority.
Belgian Supreme Court clarifies: stock options granted by a parent company can qualify as remuneration
In a ruling of 29 June 2026, the Belgian Court of Cassation further clarifies the boundaries of the concept of remuneration under Belgian law. The Court held that Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) granted by a US parent company to employees of Belgian subsidiaries can qualify as remuneration even where the employer itself plays no financial or legal role whatsoever in granting them.
Understanding the role of family social support in the medication adherence to hypertension treatment in Cambodia - BMC Public Health
World Health Organization. World Hypertension Day 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2020. Available from: https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-hypertension-day-2020. World Health Organization. Hypertension. 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension. Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Marcus ME, Ebert C, Zhumadilov Z, Wesseh CS, et al.
Strict Chain Liability Rules for Illegal Employment of Third-Country Nationals in Flanders
On 24 October 2025, the Flemish Government approved a Decision introducing a strengthened system of chain liability for the illegal employment of third-country nationals in the Flemish Region. The rules will enter into force on 1 January 2026, with a transitional tolerance period of six months. 1.
Community Health Workers for Primary Healthcare Access (COMPASS), integrating a comprehensive CHW intervention in primary healthcare in Belgium: a cluster-randomized controlled trial protocol | Trials | Full Text
Permission to carry out the study was obtained from the Social Ethics Committee for the Social Sciences and Humanities, under file code SHW_2023_98_1. An addendum was submitted and approved (SHW_2024_126) with specifics regarding the cRCT. Written informed consent will be obtained from all study participants by the community researcher, and the confidentiality of the study participants will be maintained throughout all stages of the study (SPIRIT point 26a).
Less Than A Year To Go For The Transposition Of The EU Pay Transparency Directive: Overview Of The Draft National Implementations
VO Van Olmen & Wynant More Van Olmen & Wynant is an independent law firm offering quality services in employment and corporate law and litigation. Established in 1993, we are a stable and established player in the Brussels legal market. VOW is also a founding member firm of L&E Global, an international alliance of law firms specialised in employment law. One of the most significant social policy instruments adopted by the EU in the last years is the EU Pay Transparency Directive...
National Labour Council Extends Threatened Collective Agreements Until The End Of 2025
1. Last-minute extensions prevent legal uncertainty for the remainder of 2025 On the 30th of June 2025, several collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) were going to expire. These CBAs provided exceptional regimes in the field of end-of-career measures and temporary unemployment. They had already been temporarily extended in response to successive crises.
Preferences and challenges regarding medical decision-making among patients with a migration background in Belgium: a focus group study - Archives of Public Health
An overview of the study participants’ characteristics can be found in Table 1. Asking participants about their experiences with MDM, it became clear that preferences and challenges revolved around four key components of MDM.
Changes To The European Works Council Directive To Be Formally Adopted
VO Van Olmen & Wynant More Van Olmen & Wynant is an independent law firm offering quality services in employment and corporate law and litigation. Established in 1993, we are a stable and established player in the Brussels legal market. VOW is also a founding member firm of L&E Global, an international alliance of law firms specialised in employment law. EWCs should be installed when companies have over 1000 workers in the European Economic Area and at least 150 workers in two member states.
Programme Act: Parental Leave For Long-term Foster Care As From July 2025
The legislative proposal for the federal Programme Act was introduced last week in the federal parliament and is expected to be voted on this month. One of the only employment law matters included in this first big reform of the new federal government is the introduction of parental leave for foster parents. The other employment reforms of the so-called Easter Agreement will be introduced via other legislative acts in the coming months.
The EU 'Stop-the-clock' Directive: Consequences For The CSRD And CS3D
On 26 February 2025, the European Commission published a proposal for a directive introducing the "Simplification Omnibus Package." This proposal was subsequently adopted, and the resulting Directive (EU) 2025/794 — commonly known as the "Stop-the-Clock" Directive — entered into force in April 2025. It brings important changes to both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
Compensation Laid Down In The Employment Contract Can Be Considered As Remuneration, Even If It Is Not Directly Linked To The Performance Of Work For The Employer
On 24 March 2025, the Belgium Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) issued an important ruling regarding the classification of contractually agreed-upon compensations as wage, even if they are not directly linked to the work for the employer. Such compensations are recognized as "wages," even when they are not directly linked to actual work performed.
Employer Condemned To Two Compensations For Manifestly Unreasonable Dismissal
On 3 December 2024, the Labour Court of Appeal of Brussels issued a judgment in response to a claim for manifestly unreasonable dismissal under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (hereafter CBA No. 109). The employee was initially dismissed with a notice period after which the notice period was terminated early, and the remaining notice period was replaced by a severance payment.
European Social Partners And Commission Sign Pact For Social Dialogue
On 5 March 2025, the European Commission and the European cross-industry social partners have concluded a Pact for Social Dialogue in which they take joint initiatives to strengthen social dialogue at EU level. The Pact follows the January 2024 Val Duchesse Summit and its Social Partner Declaration in which the signing of a pact was announced (see here).
Supreme Court Rules On Consequences Of Nullity Of Bonus Plan That Is Drafted In The Wrong Language
In Belgium, the language rules for the use of documents in social relations (from employers to employees) are very strict and of public order. In Flanders, the relevant rules are set out in the Flemish Language Decree of 19 July 1973. A common issue are employers, that are part of an international group, that set up their bonus plan or stock option plan on a group-wide basis and only in English. 1.
Student Work Contingent Increased To 650 Hours Per Year
In Belgium, "student work" refers to temporary employment undertaken by students under a specific and regulated framework that allows them to gain work experience and earn income while studying. This type of employment is governed by specific labour regulations that provide flexibility and benefits for both students and employers. This framework is only open for individuals enrolled in an educational institution (secondary, higher education, or university).
EU Commission Launches Omnibus I Package To Relax ESG-Rules
In February 2025, the European Commission introduced its first "Omnibus Package," designed to simplify and reduce the administrative burdens related to sustainability reporting and due diligence directives. This package outlines significant amendments to both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
CJEU Reaffirms Obligation To Register Working Time
Following the Court of Justice of the European Union's (CJEU) landmark decision in the CCOO case on 14 May 2019, the topic of working time registration has become a hot topic in many EU member states. In this ruling, the CJEU emphasized that the effectiveness of rights under the Working Time Directive can only be ensured if employers are mandated to implement an objective, reliable, and accessible system to record the duration of time worked by each employee.
New Federal Government: 20 Upcoming Employment Law Measures That Employers Must Know About
On 31 January 2025, the new Federal Government ("De Wever I", also called "Arizona") reached a coalition agreement. The document contains a long list of measures that can directly and indirectly impact employment law. Below we make a selection of the top 20 measures that we think might have the most significant impact for employers. All of these measures still need to be enacted by law.
Looking Ahead To Belgian Employment Law In 2025
Belgium held elections on 9 June 2024 and negotiations for the forming of a federal government are still ongoing at the start of 2025. Below, we first look at some reforms which entered into force at the beginning of 2025 and, second, we have a sneak peek at some of the possible reforms that are being discussed by the current coalition partners. A.
Looking Ahead To EU Employment Law In 2025
Below we give an overview of the expected legislative evolutions at EU-level employment law in 2025. New European Works Council Directive In January 2024, the Commission put forward a proposal to revise the EWC Directive. The Council agreed on its position in June 2024. This proposal is currently under discussion in the EU Parliament, but the discussions are proving to be more difficult than was expected.
Constitutional Court Upholds Strict Conditions For Employers To Unilaterally Attack Picketting Actions During Strikes
In the context of strike actions opposing the franchising of certain stores by a supermarket chain, the company obtained an injunction against picketing through an ex parte request (unilateral and very fast procedure) to the President of the Court of First Instance in Liège, based on Article 584, paragraph 4 of the Belgian Judicial Code.
CJEU Rejects Gender Discrimination Claim Regarding Higher Cost Allowance For (Male) Pilots Than For (Female) Cabin Crew
In the Air Nostrum case C-314/23 of 4 October 2024, a trade union of cabin crew workers and the Spanish public prosecutor claimed that the collective bargaining agreements that Spanish airline company Air Nostrum had concluded with several trade unions regarding the cost allowance for pilots and cabin crew constitute an indirect discrimination based on gender.
Supreme Court: Dismissed Employee Has To Prove That Damage Is Probable When Claiming Damages For A Lost Opportunity
A contractual employee of the administration of a municipality was accused of aggressive behaviour. The municipality organised a hearing in order to investigate the accusations. However, the employee did not turn up to the hearing as he claimed to be ill. Instead of postponing the hearing, the municipality immediately dismissed the employee with a severance payment. The employee brought several claims before the court, including a claim to damages due to a lost opportunity.
Game Changer: CJEU Declares FIFA's Player Transfer Rules Unlawful
On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg issued a judgment that might change the game for European football clubs. The decision was made following a request for preliminary ruling of the Court of Appeal of Mons, Belgium. Lassana Diarra, a French former professional football player took FIFA to court stating that its rules prevented him from entering into a contract with a Belgian football club.
Attendance Registration In The Cleaning Sector Is Now Compulsory
As from 1 September 2024, a new mandatory attendance registration system has entered into force for cleaning and maintenance activities in Belgium. This measure, established under the Programme Act of 26 December 2022, aims to enhance workplace safety. In this article, we outline the key aspects of the new regulations, the scope of their application, and the obligations imposed on employers and contractors in the sector.
What To Expect From The New EU Commission For EU Employment Law?
Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected as President of the EU Commission by the European Parliament on July 27 this year and has presented her selection for the appointment of the new Commissioners on 17 September. Below we have a look at the impact of her pick for European social and employment law and plans for the coming years.
Evaluation study of the urban governance of the COVID-19 crisis in the city of Antwerp - BMC Public Health
The interviewees highlighted that the COVID-19 response in Antwerp was designed to meet the needs of different groups in the city in a variety of ways. In other words, higher-level policies, guidelines and tools were adapted to local needs. We present the findings following the adapted version of the risk management cycle. Table 3 provides a number of illustrative examples of good practices. For more illustrative quotes see Additional file S3.
Non-Solicitation Agreements Between Companies Can Violate Competition Law
The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has sanctioned Securitas, G4S and Seris for various malpractices in the private security sector. The reasons include price-fixing, bid rigging as well as "no-poach" or "non-solicitation" agreements, all in a period from 2008 to 2020. According to the BCA, These practices have as effect of preventing or restricting healthy competition between companies and go against Article IV.1 of the Code of Economic law.
CJEU: Collective Dismissal Procedure Also Applies In Case Employer Retires
This article discusses whether Spanish law's exceptions of retirement on collective redundancy from the required procedures complies with EU law.
Reform Of The Social Penal Code Approved: Overview Of The New Crimes And Changes To The Sanction Levels
In a previous article, we discussed the legislative proposal to modify the Social Penal Code. This proposal was approved by the Federal Parliament during its last session on 8 May 2024. While awaiting the publication of the act in the official gazette, we would like to give the reader an overview of the modifications in book 2 of the Social Code. Book 2 lists all the crimes and the sanctions. The reform modifies the sanction levels for certain crimes and also introduces new crimes. 1.
Corporate Sustaintability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) Approved By EU
After the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2022, the EU has now also enacted a second directive aiming at improving the ESG and corporate social responsibility of companies active within the EU. The CSDDD was approved by EU Parliament on 24 April 2024 and by the EU Council on 24 May 2024. It will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal and member states will have two years from this date to transpose its provisions into national law.
New Change To Belgian Dismissal Law: The Application Of Employability-Enhancing Measures In 2025
Following the Act of 3 October 2022 on various provisions relating to employment, known as the Labour Deal Act, article 39ter of the Act on Employment Contracts was amended. This article provides the legal basis for employability-enhancing measures. Since 1 January 2023, employees, who have a notice period of at least 30 weeks, are obliged to follow employability-enhancing measures, whereby the notice period is converted into a package of dismissal measures consisting of two parts.
What Does The AI Act Mean For Employers?
The EU has recently adopted the AI Act, in full called the "Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence act) and amending certain union legislative acts". It aims to classify and regulate different AI systems and tools in order to identify and restrict harmful applications. Below we will mostly look at how this can impact employers using AI e.g. to recruit, monitor or evaluate their employees. 1.
Applying Floating Work Schedules Without A Time Tracking System Is Explicitly Criminalised
As previously discussed, the Belgian Social Criminal Code was reformed by the Act of 15 May 2024 (entry into force on 1 July 2024). One of the interesting adjustments is the introduction of article 146, which penalises employers who do not introduce and use a time tracking system when applying floating work hours for employees.
Unravelling the Belgian cascade of hypertension care and its determinants: insights from a cross-sectional analysis - BMC Public Health
To construct the cascade of hypertension care, we distinguish between 7 sequential stages: (1) prevalence, (2) screening, (3) diagnosis, (4) linkage to care, (5) treatment, (6) follow-up, and (7) BP control. To estimate the prevalence, hypertension was defined as either having a systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg or a diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, or reporting to have used antihypertensive medication during the past two weeks or having hypertension during the past year [7].
What Does The AI Act Mean For Employers?
LG L&E Global More L&E Global is spanning the globe and our member firms are ideally situated to provide clients with pragmatic, commercial advice necessary to achieve their objectives, wherever they operate.
Looking Ahead To Belgian Employment Law In 2024
2024 is an important year of political and social elections. The European, Federal, Regional and local political levels organise elections, but in May, also the workers of companies with 50 or 100 employees will elect their representatives in health & safety committees and/or works councils.
Looking Ahead To The European Union Social Policy In 2024
The European Union will hold elections in June 2024. Therefore, the coming months will be focused on finalising the work of this legislature. After April, the EU will enter into full election modus and thus there will only be 4 months left to get things done. After the elections, a new Commission will need to set its priorities for the coming years.
Legal Framework For The Obligation To Motivate A Dismissal In The Public Sector Finally Takes Form
A recent legislative proposal sets out the future rules regarding the obligation to motivate the dismissal of contractual workers in the public sector and offer protection against manifestly unreasonable dismissal. The proposal is heavily inspired by the rules for the private sector, but there are also significant differences. Since 2014, workers in the private sector have been awarded the right to request a written motivation for their dismissal by the employer.
New Dismissal And Discrimination Protection For Employees Undergoing A Fertility Treatment
An Act has been passed to enhance the protection of employees undergoing fertility treatments. This act amends the Employment Act of 16 March 1971 and the Gender Anti-discrimination Act of 10 May 2007. As fertility treatments involve a series of examinations and procedures which demand a significant amount of time and often lead to frequent absences from work, new protective mechanisms are established to address these absences and their potential impact on the organization of work.
Labour Court Of Appeal Rules That Deliveroo Riders Are Employees
In a judgment of 21 December 2023, the Labour Court of Appeal of Brussels has ruled that certain Deliveroo riders (previously active) should be considered workers in a subordinate relationship with Deliveroo as the employer. This judgment reverses the first instance judgement of 8 December 2021 of the Labour Tribunal of Brussels that had ruled in favour of Deliveroo.
CJEU: Exclusion Of Temporary Employment Contracts From The Duty To Motivate Dismissals Violates EU Law
The case concerns a prejudicial question from a Polish court regarding a dispute between a fixed-term worker and his former employer. According to Polish law, temporary employment contracts are excluded from the obligation for employers to communicate the reasons for dismissal.
EU Platform Work Directive Set To Be Approved
After a political thriller, the proposed Platform Work Directive has finally taken its final form and is now set to be formally approved at the end of April leading up to a last major achievement in the EU social policy of the Commission Von der Leyen, before the upcoming EU elections. The proposal of the Platform Work Directive was introduced on 9 December 2021 and has since then stirred a lot of controversy and discussion.
Reform Of Workers' Liability By Book 6 Of The New Civil Code (Extra-Contractual Liability)
On 1 February 2024, the Federal parliament approved a new act relating to Book 6 "Extra-contractual liability" of the Civil Code. This reform significantly altered the rules governing the liability of auxiliaries (incl. workers). It will enter into force on 1 January 2025. The reform has important implications regarding the former quasi-immunity of the "executing agent", including workers.
Reform Of The Social Penal Code Takes Shape
VO Van Olmen & Wynant More Van Olmen & Wynant A new sanction is introduced: the prohibition to participate in public tenders or to receive public concessions. European Union Criminal Law
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