Update: 18/05
The Belgian government follows an exit strategy to reopen the Belgian economy and society in May and June. Below we will focus on the details of this strategy which are important for employers.
The exit strategy exists out of different phases. These phases will start on the condition that the statistics regarding COVID-19 are favourable. More specifically, the experts and the government will constantly evaluate the situation, mostly by analysing the intake of COVID-19 patients in hospitals. If this intake number is not low enough, a new phase can be postponed or existing measures can be reversed. None of the dates mentioned below are set in stone, except for 4 May (Phase 1a) which as been given a green light by the government.
The different phases are:
Phase 0: before 4 May 2020 – B2B companies can open if they use telework or if they respect the social distancing measures (obligations do not count for companies in essential sectors/services). The original Ministerial Decree of 23 March 2020 continues to apply.
Phase 1a: as of 4 May 2020 – B2B companies can open, employers and employees need to respect safety measures. The safety measures are based on the generic guide of best practices (see below), which have resulted in sector specific guides, set up by the Joint Committees. Employers have to make sure that the sector specific measures are implemented in their companies. Telework and social distancing remain the standard.
Phase 1b: as of 11 May 2020 – Most B2C stores/companies can open. The retail sector has created a guide (The Phoenix plan) and the FPS Economy has created a Guide for the reopening of stores. These guides include preventive measures which can be taken. The Government has laid down the following rules :
- Access to shops will be limited to 1 customer per 10 m², with exceptions for smaller shops.
- Each customer may stay in a shop for a maximum of 30 minutes.
- Each customer should shop alone (unless children under 18 years of age or persons in need of supervision/help).
- The use of mouth masks is strongly recommended (but not mandatory).
- In any case the distance of 1,5m between persons needs to be respected.
- Employers are responsible for the safety and health of their employees.
- Customers can only shop in stores which are located near their house or work.
Phase 2: as of 18 May 2020 – B2C stores of contact-professions can open (e.g. hairdressers and beauty parlours).
In beauty salons, non-medical pedicure shops, nail salons, hairdressing shops, barber shops and tattoo and piercing salons, the following additional specific modalities apply when receiving customers:
- only by appointment;
- only for the duration which is strictly necessary (also in the case of home services)
- waiting rooms may not be used, except in an emergency, neither may toilets;
- from the age of 12, everyone is obliged to cover their mouth and nose with a mask, with the exception of the customer for the duration strictly necessary for facial treatment;
- the workstations must be at least 1,5 metres apart from each other;
- the service provider shall take the appropriate hygienic measures to disinfect his hands, the work instruments used and his workstation between each customer;
- no food or drinks may be offered.
Phase 3: as of 8 June 2020 – Restaurants and bars can reopen. Specific rules will follow.
Generic Guide to prevent the spread of Covid-19
The Federal government has published a Generic Guide (NL / FR) with best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in companies and at the workplace. The guide was published by the Federal Public Service of Employment, the High Council for Prevention and Protection at Work and the cabinet of the Minister of Work. Based on this guide, the joint committees of the sectors will be able to adapt the measures for the specific work performed in their sectors. Companies will have to implement these measures as much as possible. If their sector did not publish a guide, they can look at the measures included in the Generic Guide. The sectoral guides will be published on the website of FPS Employment.
The Generic Guide includes the following topics:
- Communication of the rules to employees
- Maximal application of social distancing
- Hygiene measures (hand + respiratory)
- Cleaning of the workplace, tools and social facilities (e.g. break room, cafeteria,…)
- Collective protection measures (partition walls, placing of marks, rope/ribbons to separate persons,…)
- Individual protection measures (mouth masks, gloves, protective clothing, glasses,…)
- Mouth masks are especially recommended when social distancing is not possible
- Measures for the commute from home to work
- Measures for the arrival at work
- Measures for inside the locker rooms
- Measures for at the work post / during work, including meetings
- What to do when an employee becomes ill at work
- Measures for sanitary amenities (toilets)
- Measures for during breaks
- Measures for the circulation at work
- Measures for returning to home
- Rules for external persons (visitors, clients, deliveries…)
- Measures for external employees or independent workers or multiple employers at the same location
- Measures for working on location
- Measures for off-site work
- Measures for working from home (telework)
Furthermore, the FPS has published a checklist which can be used by employers to check whether they have taken all necessary measures and a poster with simple recommendations and rules which they can use at the work place.