Living and Working in Belgium

Athens 10.03.2011Annie Vanseveren, Eures Advisor Vdab Gent

annie.vanseveren@vdab.be

Belgium…

the of Europe

Belgium: Some Facts

A federal

state 32.545 km2 (Kingdom)

Population: +/-10.840.000 inhabitants

A multicultural

society (> 9% of residents are foreign

nationals)

Brussels

is the capital: officially recognised as the

capital of Europe and the home of the key political and decision-making institutions of the EU

3 Communities: Flemish, French and German (each with own political institutions and administration)

3 Regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital Region

3 Official

languages: Dutch, French and German

BrusselsBrussels

Languages:Languages: Dutch, French, GermanDutch, French, German

Population: Population: 10.584.53410.584.534WalloniaWallonia

FlandersFlanders1.090.0006.252.000

3.499.000

MAIN TOWNS

Typical Belgian

Regional Public Employment Services

VDABwww.vdab.be

FOREMwww.leforem.be

ACTIRISwww.actiris.be

ADG www.adg.be

Unemployment Rates

EU:

9,50% Belgium:

8,80%

Brussels Region: 20,80% Flanders:

6,83%

Wallonia:

13,80%

(02.2011)

° Shortage of qualified workers

°

Surplus of unqualified workers

Unemployment Figures

E.U.:

23.000.000

Belgium: 518.300

Brussels Region: 106.200

Flanders:

198.500

Wallonia: 213.600

(02.2011)

Social Security Contributions

Employee

(global contribution = 13,07%)

Sickness

and invalidity

- medical care

3,55%-

invalidity benefits

1,15%

Unemployment

0,87%

Pension

7,50%

Family Benefits

0,00%

Accidents at work

0,00%

Professional Deseases

0,00%

Taxation Personal Income

0 €

-

8 070 €

25%

8 070 €

-

11 480 €

30%

11 480 €

-

19 130 €

40%

19 130 €

-

35 060€

45%

35 060 and +

50%

Taxable amount: gross wage –

social security contributions

Other possible deductions:

legal fixed-rate

(6 570 €) or professional costs

spouse and children at charge

mortgage loan for house

pension savings

donationsetc….

(fiscal year 2011 –

income 2010)

The Belgian Labour Market (1)

Most relevant sectors–

Services 72 %

–

Industry 26.3%

Major (exporting) industries-

Chemical sector

-

Car assembly -

Metallurgical industry

Number of Bankcrupties:

9.570 2010(sectors: hotel and catering, construction, retail trade, transport)

The Belgian Labour Market (2)

Active population: -

Active (working) population: 4.390.000

-

Employment rate = 61,8%

Average Minimum Wage: 2010

21 years

1.387,49 Euro gross/month

21,5

years

1.424,31 “

22 years

1.440,67 “

(Ref. FedEE)

Some data(1)

10% of all workers earn 1.807€/month (max).

10% of all workers earn 4.214€/month (min).

Average salary (2007) : 2.485€/month

Average salary Executives/Directors : 7.624€/month

* all salaries are gross

Some data (2)

Best paying

Sectors

:

Petrochemistry

Energy (electricity, gas)

Chemistry

Financial institutions (banks…)

Assurances

Some Characteristics

Difference in contracts

“labourers/workers” and “employees”

!!

Different languages

in Belgium (Dutch, French, German)

Bilingual : always Dutch/French

Regulation of annual vacation days

(based on prestations of the previous

year)

Labour Shortages (1)The professions

suffering from a labour shortage

vary from region to region

Most wanted:

Engineers

Business consultants/Project leaders

Nurses, geriatric helpers…

IT-

Specialists

Plumbers / Welders

Truck drivers Licence C/E

Technicians (electricians, mechanics….)

Labour Shortages (2)The main sectors

suffering from a labour shortage

Public Transport (train, tram, bus)

Sales and Distribution

Non Profit (health care)

Construction

Computer & Technology

Energy

Call Centres

Food Industry

Education

Seasonal jobs (fruit picking, vegetables, flowers….)

TOP 10 Opportunities 2011 Sectors

Employment

Telecom, ICT/internet

1965

Food Industry

1751

Banks and Insurance Companies

1563

Public Sector

1548

Logistics, transport and Distributions

1250

General Consultancy

1217

Army, Police and Civil Protection

1200

Security and Prevention

967

Energy and Environment

966

Retail-

& Wholesale

961

Ref. Vacature

Labour Surpluses

Fishermen

Unskilled workers

Low (un)skilled, monolingual employees

Social profit sector workers

Where are the Jobs?

Public Employment ServicesEures WebsiteNewspapers, local advertising papersTemporary Work and Recruitment AgenciesCompany websites, internetNetworking Job fairs & related events

Motivation letter

First contact with future employer

Must be personal and refer to the companyBe clear and not too long Show your motivation Identify clearly your objectivesNo spelling errors!!!

C.V. Mention all important elements (experience,

training, ev. hobbies)Structure and lay-out must be clear

(employer must easily find all information) Put the important information on topMention only the relevant information in

relation to the function you are applying for Indicate clearly what kind of job you are

looking for when applying spontaneouslyThe employer must find your contact data

immediately

C.V.

Mention your language skills Your CV must be concised

but complete

and

may not contain more than 2 pagesAvoid

“blanks”

all years must be mentioned

Photo

: not necessary (= positive sign)References

: inform person(s) and be sure

employer can contact them

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu

JOB INTERVIEW

Presentation

: correct clothing, smilePreparation : questions you want to askInform

yourself on the company

Ask questions (shows your interest)Choose for conversation (no monologue!)Ask for feedback and

next steps

(when can you expect outcome)

Studying in Belgium (1)

EU Students: notify local municipality within 3 months after arrival in Belgium (annex 19 => electronic E-card for max. 5 years or for duration of studies)

Student/Vacation job: possible (same conditions as for Belgian students)

Studying in Belgium (2)

Higher Education (University or University College = Hogeschool/Haute Ecole)

Responsibility of the Communities (the Flemish Community for the Dutch-speaking part of the country and the French Community for the French & German-speaking part of Belgium).

Courses can often be followed in English at master level

Studying in Belgium (3)

6 Universities Dutch language

Universiteit Gent -

www.ugent.be/en

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven -

www.kuleuven.be/english/

Vrije Universiteit Brussel -

www.vub.ac.be/english/index.php

Universiteit Antwerpen -

www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=.ENGLISH

Universiteit Hasselt -

www.uhasselt.be/en

Katholieke Universiteit Brussel -

www.hubrussel.be/smartsite.dws?ch=IEE&id=11451

Studying in Belgium (4)

9 Universities French language

Université

Catholique de Louvain -

http://www.uclouvain.be/en-index.html

Université

Libre de Bruxelles -

http://www.ulbruxelles.be/

Université

de Liège -

http://www.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_5000/accueil

Université

de Mons -

http://portail.umons.ac.be/en2/pages/default.aspx

Faculté

Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux http://www.fsagx.ac.be/index.php/en

Faculté

Polytechnique de Mons http://portail.umons.ac.be/en2/universite/facultes/fpms/pages/default.aspx

Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons http://www.fucam.ac.be/view.php3?include=65972&pere=20914&print=0

Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix à

Namurhttp://www.fundp.ac.be/en/

Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis à

Bruxelles -

http://www.fusl.ac.be/

Studying in Belgium (5)

University Colleges

22 in Dutch language 28 in French language 1 in German language 5 in other (mainly English) language (bachelor and

masterlevel, but not recognised by the authorities)

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_hogeronderwijsin stellingen_in_Belgi%C3%AB

Studying in Belgium (6)

Useful Links

Flemish Community: http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/English/

French Community:http://www.enseignement.be/index.php?page=0&navi=18

Recognition of academic and professional qualificationshttp://www.enic-naric.net/index.aspx?c=Belgium

Career in the EU Institutions

EPSO(The European Personnel Selection Office)

Address: Info-Recruitment

C-80 00/481049 Brussels

BelgiumTel:+32 (0)2.299.31.31

Languages: English, French, GermanE-mail: inforecruitment@cec.eu.intWebsite: http://europa.eu.int/epso

Career EU

http://europa.eu/about-eu/working-eu- institutions/index_it.htmhttp://europa.eu/quick-links/job-seekers/index_it.htmGeneral Information

www.ec.europa.eu/euraxess/“Researchers in motion”

Work Experience for Graduates at the EU Institutions

To give young university graduates a taste of whatworking for the EU is like, the Institutions organise traineeships or "stages“

each lasting 3-5 months.

The European Parliament

The Council

The Commission

Court of Justice

The Social and Economic Committee

The Committee of the Regions

The European Ombudsman

http://europa.eu/epso/working/training_en.htm

Traineeships

http://ec.europa.eu/stages/information/application_en.htm#In fotab1

Traineeships for interpreters

www.ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm

Traineeships (in general)

Useful Linkshttp://www.actiris.be

http://www.adg.be

http://www.leforem.be

http://www.vdab.be

http://www.stepstone.be

http://www.emploi.lesoir.be

http://www.feb.be

http://www.references.be

http://www.career.be

http://www.belgium.be

http://www.diplomatie.be

http://www.fiscus.fgov.be

http://www.socialsecurity.be

http://www.onem.be

http://www.brussel.irisnet.be

http://www.flanders.be

http://www.wallonie.be

http://www.dglive.be

http://www.eurobrussels.com

http://www.jobsinhubs.com

http://www.jobsinbrussels.com

http://www.brusselsjobs.com

Thank you Dank U Merci

Danke GrazieGracias Obrigado

Tack Dziękiσας ευχαριστώ

Questions?