Group Belgium

1. Belgium: General Country Characteristics
• Location: Belgium shares a border
with Germany, France, Luxembourg
and Netherlands.
• Capital: Brussels
• Size: 11,780 square miles (30,510
square kilometers)
• Population: 11.3 million
• Principles Industries:
• Energy
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Language: Dutch and French.
German is considered the third
language.
• Religion: Catholicism is the main
religion faith. Government
supports Catholic, Protestant
churches along with Jewish and
Muslim faith.
• Literacy: 99.0%. 75% of adults
between the ages of 25-64 have
completed secondary education.
• Type of Government: Federal State
• Currency: Euro

2. Country Economic Conditions:
• Standard of Living: Belgium
• Average Household net-adjusted
disposable income per capital is USD
$29,968 per year this is less than OECD
average of USD $30, 563.
• Economic Gap between the richest and
poorest. The top 20% of the population
will earn four times the amount as the
bottom 20%.
• Average family will spend 21% of their
gross adjustable income towards their
household budget.
• Average house contains 2.2 rooms per
person and 97% of Belgium people live in
housing that contains private access to
indoor toilet.
• Standard of Living: U.S
• Average household net adjusted
income per capita is $44,049 a year
which is higher than the OECD
average of $30,563.
• However there is a large gap between
the richest and the poorest. At least
20% of the populations will earn
about eight times as the bottom 20%.
• Average household will contains 2.4
rooms per person and an average
family will spend 19% of their gross
income to provide shelter.

3. Country Economic Conditions:
• Income Distribution:
• Unemployment Rate 2017: 7.5%
• 3.7% percent of the population falls
below the lowest 10% of the income
levels and 20% of household live in
the top 10% percentile.
• In 2000, UN ranked Belgium 7th
behind countries like Switzerland.
Their per capita income was $28,790
and is currently ranked 8th out of 191
countries in terms of per capita
income.
• Belgium has social welfare system
that helps offset the poverty within
the country.
Distribution of Income or Consumption by
Percentage Share: Belgium
Lowest 10% 3.7
Lowest 20% 9.5
Second 20% 14.6
Third 20% 18.4
Fourth 20% 23.0
Highest 20% 34.5
Highest 10% 20.0
SOURCE: 2000 World Development Indicators [CD-ROM].

4. Countries Economic Conditions: Wages and
Employment
• Wage Levels:
• Many employers pay a 13th month
bonus to their employees.
• Some companies offer employees
a variable profit sharing or
productivity bonus depending on
the performance of the company.
• Employees are entitled to a
holiday/vacation bonus.
• Belgians earn $49,587 per
average which is more than the
OECD average of $44,290

5. Countries Economic Conditions:
• Employment Levels:
• 62% of the working age
population between the age of 15
to 64 has a paid job. Lower than
the average of 67% according to
the OECD.
• The graph to the right shows the
increase of unemployment from
2017 to 2018.

6. Country Economic Conditions:
• How wages are determined:
• Age
• Industry Collective Agreement
• Pegged to Local Cost of Living Expenses.
• Salaries usually do not appear in job
advertisements.
Skills Available:
• Industrial Apprenticeship
• Vocational Training available for both adults
and students.
• Employer-provided benefits:
• Company Car
• Private School Fees
• Interest-free home
• Loans
• Membership of local clubs
• Sporting organization
• 10 paid holiday per year
• Vacation: 20 days a year:
• Group Insurance- Employee are automatically
enrolled by a group plan which is paid 100% by
employer.
• Healthcare
• Illness Plan- compensate possible loss of income
during the first 365 days of disability.
• Accident Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

7. Country Economic Conditions
• Working conditions:
• Average work week is 39 hours, after that employees must be paid overtime.
Although some labor organization are calling for 35 hours a week.
• Some companies in Belgium are offering flex-time. Examples, employees are
to be present during block hours, but if they need time off they will need to
make it up by working earlier than the required time or having a shorter
break.

8. Country Economic Conditions
• Governmental
• There are laws against forced labor.
The minimum age a person can
begin working is the age 15.
• There is legislation on equal
opportunity in the workplace and
recently the government has
outlawed sexual harassment, ban
on gender discrimination, working
conditions, and unfair termination.
•
• Role of Unions:
• At least 63% of workers belongs to
the union.
• 90% of workers have collective
bargaining agreements.
• Special labor courts oversees
disputes between the employee
and the company.
• Most Belgian unions have links to
political parties, but some are
independent of the government.