The Belgian government wants to increase the employment rate from 71to 80per cent by 2030, also taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the pandemic.

One of the most interesting proposals of the project is a four-day labour week, to "give employees more freedom and more flexibility to better reconcile private and professional life", said the Flemish Liberal Prime Minister.

According to the most recent data from the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the working week in Belgium is currently 35.5 hours on average, compared to 36.5 hours in France and 36.3 hours in Italy.

With the reform, the weekly working time (maximum 45 hours) would remain unchanged but would be spread over fewer days. A worker could also ask to work more one week and less the next. According to the guidelines presented by the Belgian government, there should be a request from the worker and an agreement at company level. The company could refuse the request but should justify the choice in writing.

Another proposal is the right to disconnection, which has recently been discussed and regulated in several countries around the world.

According to the proposal, private sector companies operating in Belgium with at least 20 workers cannot expect staff to answer calls or emails from 11 pm to 5 am or on weekends.

Moreover, employees will have the right to more training, while employers will benefit from a new night-work rate of pay that starts from midnight rather than 8 pm at present.

Finally, the government is also looking to amend the existing assessment criteria defining whether workers are categorised as employees or self-employed contractors.

"We have experienced two difficult years. With this agreement, we set a beacon for an economy that is more innovative, sustainable and digital. The aim is to be able to make people and businesses stronger," said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo during a press conference announcing the reform package.

The legislative process is ongoing and amendments can therefore be made in the coming months to be incorporated into final legislation.