Court rules that Prince Laurent will not have access to social security
The labour court in Brussels has ruled that Prince Laurent, King Philippe's brother, will not have access to social security as a self-employed person. According to the court, Laurent receives his endowment for performing specific services that are strictly of a public nature. The prince has a public function and is therefore not self-employed.
Although Laurent receives an annual endowment of almost 400,000 euros as a senior official performing representative duties for the monarchy - about 100 visits and representation missions a year - he also conducts business as a self-employed person.
Laurent recently applied to the social insurance fund of the Union des Classes Moyennes (UCM) – an organisation that defends the interests of the self-employed - but when it tried to register him with the National Institute for the Social Security of the Self-employed (NISSE), the registration was refused. According to the institute, the prince could not be considered self-employed. Laurent took the NISSE and the UCM to court.
"It is important for the court to rule that the prince is performing a professional activity for the endowment he receives"
The labour court has now ruled that Laurent's work cannot be considered as self-employment. Since he has a public function, he cannot be eligible for social security for the self-employed. According to the court, Laurent receives his endowment for performing specific services that are strictly of a public nature.
The court did however note that there are some “incomplete points” in the legal endowment regulation in terms of pension rights. Those gaps would have to be resolved by the legislature.
“It is important for the court to rule that the prince is performing a professional activity for the endowment he receives,” his lawyer told Het Nieuwsblad.
“An endowment is usually for life, but if the prince no longer wants to perform his duties and wants to retire, it is important that he gets a pension for the years he worked.” The lawyer will now consider with Laurent whether they will appeal or try to bring about legislative change.
Prince Laurent in 2024 © PHOTO DN PHOTOGRAPHY / ABACAPRESS.COM
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