From June 1, 2024, tenure in the Flemish government will largely be eliminated, with new staff employed solely on a contractual basis. Only individuals in positions of authority will

still have the potential for permanent appointments.

Currently, Flemish public sector employees can be hired with either ordinary employment contracts, similar to the private sector, or through permanent appointments via tenure. At present, about 70% of Flanders' 29,000 civil servants hold permanent positions, while the remaining 30% work under fixed-term or open-ended contracts, which are significantly less advantageous. Employees with fixed-term contracts face slower salary progression, easier termination, lower pensions, and reduced sick pay after one month, compared to their permanently appointed counterparts. The upcoming reform aims to address these disparities.

Starting June 1, contractual employment will become the standard for new recruits to the Flemish Government, effectively phasing out permanent appointments. The contractual status will be enhanced, particularly regarding health insurance and pensions. Permanent positions will only be available for certain authority roles, specifically for individuals responsible for making independent decisions on the fundamental rights of individuals.

This reform is part of a broader modernization of the Flemish personnel policy. Ending permanent positions has been a key goal of the "five-track policy" introduced by former Minister of Administration Bart Somers (Open VLD). The reform process involved prolonged and challenging negotiations with unions. Photo by User:Ben2, Wikimedia commons.