News

A new study published online in the European Heart Journal suggests working overtime for a few hours may drastically increase your chances of dying of coronary heart disease. The study showed that those work 3-4 hours overtime each day had a significantly greater risk of death from heart disease. According to the study working one or two hours longer each day does not put you at a higher risk for heart disease.

You have been warned - cut down your hours!

 

If you have any employees and you are governed by the rules applying to the Joint Work's Committee 218 (employees) then this concerns you.

The Government has announced new measures which include a contribution of up to EUR 1,100 a month in regular salary payments to entice employers to hire more staff.

 

At long last the Belgian Government has made the necessary administrative changes to put electronic invoices on the same footing as paper invoices.

Owing to deflation in Belgium in 2009 several sectors of the Belgian economy have recently seen that the systems they use to calculate annual increases have resulted in pay cuts.

Local Knowledge together with its partners, ING, The Bulletin, xpats.com and the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium recently ran a sell out event on setting up and running a business in Belgium.

The figure for the maximum bonus level in 2010 is 2,299 EUR.

Eighteen years after EU governments acknowledged the need for social security reform, and after years of negotiation at an EU level, new international social security rules will enter into force across the EU on 1 May 2010.

 

16% of Belgians admit to telling outright lies or exaggerating the information in their CV according to a study by StepStone.

Local Knowledge in partnership with ING, xPATS.com, The Bulletin and the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium will organise a seminar on 13th October on how to set up and run a business in Belgium.
Register for the event here

Foreign investment in Belgium fell by 19% in 2008, in part due to Belgium's inability to provide a stable and predictable political environment.

 

Belgian company Local Knowledge SNC and US-based Remington Business Group have launched a partnership that will enable their respective clients to enter and thrive in new markets overseas.

The Belgian government has adopted a proposal to enable entrepreneurs to set up starter limited companies with as little as €1 of capital.

From 1st May Belgium will no longer apply restrictions to workers from 'new' Member States

The Belgian Government has announced a temporary measure for companies experiencing cash flow problems.

The month of March was a record month for bankruptcies in Belgium

If roadworks prevent your customers from coming to your business premises and your business suffers as a result then help is at  hand.

A new Prime Minister, Flemish (Dutch speaking) Christian Democrat, Herman Van Rompuy, has been confirmed in office by the Belgian Parliament.

 

On 15 December 2008, new support measures came into force for SMEs, freelancers and potential entrepreneurs who need to hire consultants to conduct feasibility studies or develop their business.

The Brussels Region Government has announced a new free support and advice service for entrepreneurs and SMEs in financial difficulty.

The New Champions of Belgian Business Start Ups

In this piece, Local Knowledge founders Louise Hilditch and Julie Kolokotsa describe the essential steps for getting started.