Proposition 51K2586

Projet de loi améliorant le statut social du sportif rémunéré.

General information ¶

Authors

MR Alain Courtois, François-Xavier de Donnea
Open Vld Luk Van Biesen
PS | SP Jean-Marc Delizée, Éric Massin, Annick Saudoyer, Bruno Van Grootenbrulle, Danielle Van Lombeek-Jacobs
Vooruit Hans Bonte, David Geerts, Jan Peeters, Dirk Van der Maelen

Submission date

June 29, 2006

Official page

Visit

Status

Adopted

Requirement

Simple

Subjects

social security sport

Voting ¶

Voted to adopt

CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE PS | SP Open Vld N-VA MR VB

Contact form ¶

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Discussion ¶

April 12, 2007 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source

The written report is very interesting. The bill was unanimously adopted in the committee. It was discussed on 28 February and 22 March.

I think the interested colleagues will read the written report very well.

Mr Geerts has the word in the general discussion.

Mr. Speaker, colleagues, my colleagues have insisted that I speak for at least an hour, but I will try to keep it shorter.

I would like to thank the rapporteur for her outstanding report. As you know, a professional sports practitioner needs to build his or her career in a very short term. This is not always obvious. Sports clubs often have an exceptional regime in terms of labour law and social security law, of course to increase the club’s viability, but unfortunately this can sometimes have far-reaching consequences for the athlete in question. Sometimes athletes may be in financial trouble.

This bill, which was unanimously approved in the committee, as the rapporteur said, seeks to make a number of corrections on the social level, in particular in the unemployment insurance. The second aspect of this bill aims to improve the right to work.

Let me start with the first aspect. A well-paid paid athlete does not need additional and better social protection. He or she can build the necessary social protection during his career. Unfortunately, there are also some smaller garnals, which have to do with much less, like many young soccer players. They are threatening to fall into the social network. It is precisely for them that the existing legislation must be urgently adjusted. In case of unemployment or inability to work, they and their families can find themselves in financial difficulties. In addition, these players have not had the opportunity to build a financial reserve during their careers.

Since the RSZ contents for the sports practitioner are only made at a low flat amount, 1,234 euros, i.e. the guaranteed minimum amount, this has major implications for their social benefits. They can only claim the minimum allowance for unemployment or illness. This is a very weak income protection. As a result, a number of sports practitioners, mainly the smaller garnals, often end up in a financially precarious situation. With this bill, I wanted to address that problem by also giving paid sports practitioners access to the maximum allowance for unemployment or illness.

A second adjustment provided for by this law is the so-called competition condition, which is too heavy even for small players. For example, players who are dismissed for urgent reasons or who resign themselves during the current sporting season may no longer participate in the same sporting competition. This creates problems for players who are expelled to the B or C core. Remember the shock incident. Winning premiums and other benefits are then not taken into account for their income. This is not possible, in my opinion and in the opinion of my colleagues. We believe that there is a need for a relaxation of the legislation.

As already stated in the committee, this bill should not be the end point. In this sector, however, every measure needs to be taken step by step to increase transparency and strengthen the sector. I thank you for your attention. I did not extend my half-hour speech time.