Living and Working in Belgium

Transcription

1 Living and Working in Belgium Lisbon, April 2013 Charlotte Hoste, Eures Adviser Kortrijk (B) Overview of presentation Ø Belgium : facts and figures Ø Vision on international mobility Ø Social security, taxes and salaries in a nutschell Ø How to look for a job in Belgium and how to apply? Ø Points of interest for you 1

2 Belgium the of Western Europe Airports & flights Ø Easy to go back to Portugal during weekends, holidays : Brussels airport intl.: TAP and Brussels airlines fly Porto 2x a day and Lisbon 5x a day. Charleroi airport (Brussels South): Ryanair flies Porto once a day and Faro everyday except on Mondays. Ø Also easy to visit other countries 2

3 Belgium: Some Facts Ø Surface: km 2 ( Portugal = P: km²), 300 km to drive through Ø Kingdom Ø Population: inhabitants ( P = ) Ø Population density : 340,5/km² ( P = 116,9/km² ) Ø A multicultural society (> 8% of residents are foreign nationals) Ø 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 Ø English is working language in IT sector, big companies, especially in Brussels Typical Belgian 3

4 Belgium is a federal state divided into 3 Regions 3 Communities The Flemish Region The Flemish Community The Brussels-Capital Region The German speaking Community The Walloon Region The French Community Belgium is a federal state divided into 3 Regions 3 Communities 4

5 Most recent figures Ø Tension indicator for Western-Flanders ( sept ) : < 2 (=very tensed labour market ) Technical functions : electronics, electromechanics, maintenance mechanics All engineer functions All nurses functions Construction sector : foremen, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tower crane drivers 5

6 Vacancies for engineers and IT ers in Software engineer : Helpdesk support engineer : Engineer electromechanics : Construction engineer : Projectmanager IT : Business analyst : IT analyst developer : Engineer mechanics : Engineer electronics : Engineer chemistry : 600 Social Economic Council of Flanders 2008 Many structural shortages Engineering and IT Construction sector Healthcare Technical profiles No longer available in Flanders Shortage on the labour market? The road to receiving area Flanders Concentric model, based on the Belgian labour market situation 6

7 Concentric model of VDAB Ø Screening and activating the known and unknown labour supply Focus on vulnerable groups Re-orientation and training Ø Cooperation with other regions Mixed interregional teams (FL BRU WAL) Focus on job-placement in Flanders Ø International mobility Our international approach Only (mainly) sector focussed events : Engineering, healthcare and ICT Focus on matching : we start from the vacancy Partnership with public integration services Information on Dutch classes, health care, housing, public transport, schools. Personal pathways Even when you are still in Portugal : onthaalbureau@vlaamsbrabant.be

8 Social security Ø % on gross salary Ø Covers: Sickness insurance Occupational accidents Unemployment benefits Family benefits Legal pension Professional diseases Ø Belgium is known for its extensive safety net Ø The employer must complete the formalities for affiliation, except for health insurance Ø Don t forget your social security forms ( S, P, U, F ) Income Taxes Ø Tax rates vary by tax brackets from 25 % up to 50 % Ø Everybody has a taxfree minimum on his or her salary Ø Various reductions are possible : e.g. taks deduction for dependent children, mortgage loan for house, pension savings Ø A declaration of all incomes of the past year to be filled in before the end of June ( in Dutch! ) : You can contact the local tax office for help 8

9 More into detail : Practical guide on moving to Belgium: Official website : taxes/income_tax/ About your salary Ø equal pay ( collective wage arrangements ) Ø Ø take into account : living costs, fringe benefits Ø Startsalaries for ü Bachelor : gross / month net ,75 / month ü Master : gross / month net 1344, ,26 / month Be realistic!! 9

10 What s the amount of your net salary? Ø On monthly basis : Gross salary % (Social security contributions) = Taxable amount - Taxes = Net salary Ø On yearly basis : 14 months salary for 12 months of work Some Characteristics Ø Difference in contracts labourers/ workers and employees!! Ø Workweek = 38 h Ø Regulation of annual vacation days ü based on prestations of the previous year ü 4 weeks + 10 public holidays Ø IBO : interesting for Flemish employers so you might be offered it 10

11 IBO Individual Professional Training in a Company The employer is the trainer During the training you have to follow a program => VDAB training contract Attn. This is no labour/working contract!! All administration is done by VDAB = Public Employment Service IBO Duration of the training : from 4 to 26 weeks After the training => normal working contract with employer (permanent contract for at least the duration of the training period) 11

12 Where to find vacancies for Belgium? Ø Public services : Ø Eures : Ø Press : Ø Federation of temporary agencies : Ø Temp. work agencies: Randstad ( Accent Jobs for People, Actief Interim, Adecco, Ago Select, Daoust, Konvert Interim, Secretary Plus, Start People, Unique, How to apply for vacancies in Belgium? Ø Motivation letter : Maximum one page Mention your willingness to move Mention if you can apply by webcam Ø CV : Maximum two pages Picture only if asked Professional experience in an antichronological order Mention in your contactdetails your country code ( phone and address ) Mention the equivalence of your diploma ( google Naric ) Europass CV 12

13 Points of interest for you Ø If you find a job in Belgium, contact your local Portugese Eures-adviser ( important for your forms and our results ) Ø Spouses will get full support from Eures and VDAB to find a job in flanders as well! Ø U2 : Authorisation to continue receiving unemployment benefit while looking for a job in another country Ø What is your engagement and the engagement of the employer? Useful Links

14 Thank you Dank U Merci Danke Grazie Gracias Obrigado Tack Dzięki Questions? 14