Compulsory insurance for meal delivery couriers is postponed

Belgium's federal government has postponed the introduction of compulsory accident insurance for self-employed workers such as meal delivery drivers by two years.

The postponement was sharply criticised by the ACV trade union, which warned that "platform workers are being squeezed even further".

In its October 2022 law on the platform economy, the previous government stipulated that platform companies such as UberEats and Deliveroo must also provide occupational accident insurance for self-employed workers that is similar to that provided for employees.

This is no luxury, according to United Freelancers, part of ACV, as meal delivery drivers often rush from one place to another in all types of weather and face a number of risks.

In 2023, UberEats courier Sultan Zadran died after his bicycle collided with a Flixbus near Brussels-North station.

The insurance was supposed to come into effect on 1 January this year. However, a royal decree by economy minister David Clarinval (MR) and minister for the self-employed Eléonore Simonet (MR) has postponed its introduction because the legislation in its current form is "simply not enforceable".

According to the insurance sector, the legislation lacks clarity and does not allow for the identification of who and what specifically needs to be insured.

“Corrections must now be prepared in consultation with stakeholders to make the legislation enforceable,” the two ministers said in a statement.

Spokesperson Koen Peumans noted that compulsory health and disability insurance will remain part of the social status of self-employed people. These insurance policies provide for the reimbursement of medical expenses and the granting of benefits for incapacity for work.

“Those affected had three years to prepare,” the unions said in response. “Occupational accident insurance is already common practice for employees with an employment contract. Surely it cannot be that difficult to extend it?”