Belgian government cuts training

The Belgian government last month cut employees' rights to paid time-off for training as part of an overall cost cutting plan. The measure, which was pushed through during the summer and came into effect on 1 September, is strongly opposed by the unions.

Belgian employees have a right to a certain number of hours each year during which they can undertake occupational training and some other forms of training - notably trade union training - without loss of pay. Until the most recent cuts, these normally ranged from a maximum of 120 to 180 hours a year depending on the type of training, with some 70,000 employees in Belgium involved annually.

The time-off is paid for from a fund part-financed by employer contributions and in part with government support. As this fund is now in deficit the government has responded by cutting the average length of paid time-off permitted to around 100 hours a year.

It first announced its intention of doing this on 24 July, at the start of the holiday period, and despite objections from the unions it pushed ahead - introducing the changes last month.

The unions point out that the decision runs contrary to the government's own policy to increase adult participation in training and education and have demanded its reversal.

As the two main union confederations, the CSC and FGTB, note in a joint statement, "these savings are incomprehensible and cannot be defended".