On Thursday, the Belgian parliament approved a new parcels law aimed at ensuring thousands of couriers receive a minimum wage and have the right to rest. Postal Minister Petra De Sutter

introduced the law to address abuses in the parcel service sector.

Under the new legislation, couriers will be limited to delivering parcels for a maximum of 9 hours a day, 56 hours a week, 90 hours every two weeks, and 10 hours twice a week. Couriers will also be entitled to a statutory minimum wage and reimbursements for petrol, garage costs, and car insurance.

Additionally, postal operators will be required to report to the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) and register the delivery times of parcel couriers. The law aims to ensure that any small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) delivering parcels for larger postal operators receive a minimum remuneration, reducing the vulnerability of the sector to undeclared work and tax fraud. The legislation includes a new reporting system to enhance transparency.

The proposal by De Sutter seeks to end the "race to the bottom" in working conditions for parcel deliverers, targeting companies that exploit couriers. De Sutter emphasized the need to eliminate companies engaging in practices such as avoiding social security contributions, employing individuals in the black market, and having unemployed people deliver parcels.

While the legislation has received approval, there are dissenting voices. The union of independent entrepreneurs Unizo expressed concern that the law would predominantly impact SMEs. Opposition MP Michael Freilich criticized the legislation as "dramatic," suggesting it could harm the entire sector rather than just addressing bad actors.

The new law is scheduled to take effect in 2024. Violations could result in fines of up to 5% of the contractor's turnover. Photo by MobiusDaXter, Wikimedia commons.