Over the last years Belgium-based airlines have seen an increase in scrutiny by the Belgian social inspection.

While some airliners went to their local or federal tax authority to negotiate a ruling, others were imposed a fine after making a deal with the social inspection authority.

This led some airlines to change their per diem system (overnight allowances and block hour compensation) and even a fall out on other services, like social taxation of standby tickets.

So a little bit more than a year ago, one airline took the initiative to start discussing this issue in the Commission Paritaire/Paritair comite (CP/PC).

They drafted a text that they considered good (for them), and proposed it to pass as a Royal Decree (KB/AR) to once and for all put a definitive end to the unclarity.

Needless to say, that this text did not fit all companies and had some serious financial implications for the flying staff.

The first draft was written with only one company in mind and with the only goal to protect the company, not the flying staff.

After the union secretaries were informed as well as the representatives of the other companies that are part of the same CP/PC, the text was reworked.

We, as BeCA, together with unions, have no objections against the idea of a Royal Decree. But the final text must be balanced and also protect the flying staff.

The last meeting took place on 5 November. We are closely monitoring this file with representatives from different airliners from Belgium and keep you posted on any developments.

BeCA’s demands

• The per diems should be exempt from social contribution (unless used to replace existing salaries)
• … and from taxation
• There should be no distinction between categories of flying staff
• Amounts should be indexed & current limits adapted to the index
• Details about the amounts must be available
• Flying staff should be able to continue declaring their real expenses in their tax declaration
• Clarification in the terminology used that is adapted to all companies (e.g. suitable accommodation)
• If the consequence of this new Royal Decree is a loss in recovered costs for the crew member, this should be compensated by the company.