Brussels – A planned overhaul of the Belgian pension system is facing growing criticism, with concerns raised that it will disproportionately impact families, particularly women, who have experienced periods of unemployment or utilized transitional employment programs known as “landingsbanen.” The reforms, spearheaded by Minister of Pensions Jan Jambon of the N-VA party, aim to limit the extent to which “equivalent periods” – times of unemployment, illness, or career breaks – count towards full pension benefits. Critics warn that the changes, set to be phased in starting in 2027, could reduce monthly pensions by several hundred euros for affected individuals.
The Gezinsbond, a leading family advocacy organization, has sounded the alarm, arguing that the pension adjustments risk becoming a significant social setback rather than simply a budgetary measure. According to the organization, the planned reduction in the weighting of equivalent periods – decreasing from a maximum of 40 percent of a career to 20 percent by 2031 – will hit those with interrupted career paths the hardest. While periods of illness and care abandon are currently excluded from these limitations, the Gezinsbond maintains that the core issue remains: the erosion of pension rights for individuals who haven’t had continuous employment.
Impact on Women and Vulnerable Workers
The proposed changes are expected to have a particularly pronounced effect on women, who are statistically more likely to have taken career breaks for childcare or other family responsibilities. Ivo Mechels, the chairman of Gezinsbond, estimates that approximately three-quarters of those affected by the reforms will be women. As reported by P-Magazine, Mechels highlighted the risk to part-time working women who rely on supplementary unemployment benefits and those utilizing landingsbanen to reduce their working hours for caregiving purposes.
Landingsbanen, or transitional employment programs, are designed to help workers gradually re-enter the workforce or reduce their hours while maintaining some income support. The planned reforms threaten to diminish the pension benefits accrued during these periods, potentially discouraging workers from utilizing these programs. The opposition party Vooruit is demanding adjustments to the legislation, specifically seeking an exemption for individuals participating in landingsbanen. VRT News reports that Vooruit believes these programs should continue to be fully recognized for pension calculations.
The Phased Implementation and Potential Losses
The changes to the calculation of equivalent periods will be implemented in phases. From 2027, these periods will count for a maximum of 40 percent of a worker’s career, decreasing to 20 percent after a subsequent period, and remaining at that level from 2031 onwards. This phased approach is intended to mitigate the immediate impact, but the long-term consequences are still a source of concern. Families could witness their monthly pensions reduced by hundreds of euros as a result of these changes, according to reports. HLN reported that families risk pension losses of hundreds of euros per month.
Minister Jambon Responds
Minister Jambon’s office has, as of February 20, 2026, not indicated any intention to revise the plans, according to P-Magazine. However, the growing pressure from organizations like the Gezinsbond and political parties like Vooruit suggests that the debate surrounding the pension reforms is far from over. The minister has indicated a willingness to investigate concerns raised about the impact of the reforms, but has not yet signaled a change in course.
What’s Next?
The proposed pension reforms are currently under consideration by the Belgian parliament. The debate is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with Vooruit pushing for amendments to protect workers utilizing landingsbanen and mitigate the impact on vulnerable groups. The Gezinsbond is continuing to advocate for a fundamental review of the plans, warning of the potential for significant social consequences. The next key step will be the parliamentary vote on the legislation, which is currently scheduled for March 2026.
This is a developing story. Readers are encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives on the proposed pension reforms in the comments below.
