State security to screen 'safety sensitive' job holders

Belgium's state security will subject 'safety sensitive' job holders in Belgium to a security screening, as the law on federal security authorisations and safety certificates is set to change this year, says interior minister Jan Jambon in De Tijd.

In the new act, sectors and companies are given the opportunity to decide for themselves which functions may require screening. "It's obviously about jobs that could threaten national security, but it's not only up to the government to determine which functions in which companies require screening," says Jambon spokesman Olivier van Raemdonck. "We will therefore consult with all critical sectors and relevant ministers."

According to Jambon, consultations are already planned with the telecommunications sector, industrial companies and the public transport and pharmaceutical sectors. “We can no longer perform ad-hoc screenings; We need to tackle this structurally," says van Raemdonck.

Last year, state security screened 122,538 people, 40,000 more than in 2015.