The “social economy” certificate allows companies to benefit from the increased subsidies outlined in Article 60 Section 7, if these companies are recognised by the Ministerial Decree of 10 October 2004, concerning the establishment of a list of social-economy initiatives, with a view to the granting of an increased subsidy from the State for public social-welfares centres, for specific integration initiatives concerning the social economy.
The “social economy” certificate is issued based on the approval or recognition that is already held by the applicant organisation.
It is issued on request by post. This must include a scanned copy of the approval, the recognition or the organisation's articles of association, which allow the certificate to be issued.
For the following types of employers, certificates are issued upon request and based on proof of recognition by the competent authority:
Social economy initiatives or integration companies that are approved under the Decree of 20 October 2016, concerning the approval of social economy initiatives and the approval and subsidisation of integration companies;
Social-housing agencies, as outlined in the Decree of the Walloon government of 12 December 2013 concerning social-housing organisations, notably articles 2–11;
Companies with a public-service vocation, as outlined in Article 661 of the Companies Code of 7 May 1999;
Employers that have been approved as socio-professional integration centres (CISP) under the Decree of 10 July 2013 concerning socio-professional integration centres;
Employers who organise employment-development initiatives in the local social-services sector (IDESS), as approved under Chapter II of the Decree from the Walloon government of 14 December 2006, concerning the approval and subsidisation of “employment-development initiatives in the local social-services sector"
A “social economy” certificate can also be issued, upon request and based on the articles of association, for companies with a social purpose, as outlined in Article 661 of the Companies Code of 7 May 1999. The company’s articles of association are first analysed by the Social economy department, in order to verify their compliance with Article 661 of the Companies Code.
The “social economy” certificate allows recognised employers to benefit from the provision of staff under Article 60 Section 7, with an increased subsidy, by a CPAS. This provision can take place within a CPAS and within one of the specific social-economy integration initiatives.
Employers who want to benefit from the certificate must first apply for a certificate by emailing economie.sociale@spw.wallonie.be and mention the name of the applicant, proceeded by “Social economy certificate”, in the subject line. All applications are made electronically; hard copies are not required. Communication generally takes place via email.
The applicant employer must also attach any necessary document(s) (approval, recognition, articles of association, etc.) that prove that the organisation belongs to one of the aforementioned categories. Supporting documents must be sent electronically.
There are no fees associated with this procedure.
Currently, the only language that can be used for this process is French.
Any individual or legal entity, who believes that a Walloon administrative authority or the French Community of Belgium has not acted in accordance with their public-service obligations in relation to a case involving them, may submit an individual claim, in writing or in person, to the Ombudsmen of Wallonia and the French Community of Belgium.
This claim can be submitted in writing to the following address:
Médiateur de la Wallonie et de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
Rue Lucien Namèche, n°54
B-5000 Namur
The “social economy” certificate is issued based on the approval or recognition that is already held by the applicant organisation.
- Ministerial Decree (from the Federal State) of 10 October 2004 concerning the establishment of a list of social-economy initiatives, with a view to the granting of an increased subsidy from the State for public social-welfares centres, for specific integration initiatives concerning the social economy.
- Article 14 of the Royal Decree of 16 May 2003, pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title V of the law of 24 December 2002 (I), aiming to standardise and simplify the social-security contribution schemes
- Ministerial Decree (from the Federal State) of 10 October 2004 concerning the establishment of a list of social-economy initiatives, with a view to the granting of an increased subsidy from the State for public social-welfares centres, for specific integration initiatives concerning the social economy.
- Article 14 of the Royal Decree of 16 May 2003, pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title V of the law of 24 December 2002 (I), aiming to standardise and simplify the social-security contribution schemes
- Ministerial Decree (from the Federal State) of 10 October 2004 concerning the establishment of a list of social-economy initiatives, with a view to the granting of an increased subsidy from the State for public social-welfares centres, for specific integration initiatives concerning the social economy.
- Article 14 of the Royal Decree of 16 May 2003, pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title V of the law of 24 December 2002 (I), aiming to standardise and simplify the social-security contribution schemes