Subscription to the American giant’s service has increased by almost 100% since its arrival in Belgium in 2020: the price was set at 6.99 euros per month or 69.90 euros per year, compared to 13.99 euros or 139 .90 euros per year from now on, for the same options.
Disney is now offering a new lighter option, set at 9.99 euros per month, but offering two simultaneous screens (compared to four with the more expensive option) and limited image quality.
This places Disney+ among the most expensive streaming platforms on the market in Belgium. Prime Video is currently the least expensive service, at 2.99 euros per month or 25 euros per year, offering up to three simultaneous screens.
Apple TV+ for its part is set at 9.99 euros per month (up to six screens), the same price as the basic Netflix subscription (for a single screen). For higher image quality or more simultaneous screens, Netflix customers have to pay up to 19.99 euros per month.
Finally, HBO Max, the latest arrival on the Belgian market this summer, offers a premium formula at 13.99 euros per month or 139 euros per year (for four screens), or a basic formula (with advertisements and two screens) at 5 .99 euros per month or 59.90 euros per year.
Stricter rules for tires during technical inspection in Flanders
Stricter rules around the control of tire wear will be put in place from December 1 during the technical inspection of motor vehicles in Flanders. These measurements will concern both tire wear and the maximum speed at which vehicles can travel with these tires.
On current tires, a wear indicator, represented by a cube located in the main groove, indicates when a tire needs to be replaced. If this cube is flush with the top of the tread, the car will be rejected with a red card valid for 15 days. The vehicle may be driven during this period, but the defect must be corrected and the vehicle must be inspected again no later than two months after the refusal.
If the tread is below the wear indicator, showing that the depth of the tire groove is less than 1.6 millimeters, the car will receive a red card with a driving ban until the tire is corrected. issue. In the event of a driving ban, the driver is only allowed to travel the shortest route between the inspection center, the place of repair and his place of residence.
The new rules also indicate that the tire speed index will be set at a maximum of 160 km/h, even if the vehicle can travel at a higher speed. The speed index determines the maximum authorized speed for a vehicle equipped with these tires. Until today, the tire speed index always had to be equal to the maximum speed of the vehicle, as mentioned on the certificate of conformity.
Finally, electronic marking indicating whether the tire complies with European safety standards will be mandatory for all vehicles registered for the first time after January 1, 2004.
Taxi reform in Wallonia introduces a new legal framework for street taxis
The reform of the taxi sector voted by the Walloon Parliament in September 2023 will come into force on December 1. This reform registers taxi services, whether station taxis (using a taximeter or other approved equipment) or street taxis (using exclusively an electronic intermediation service, such as Uber’s services). , Bolt, Heetch…), within a new legal framework.
Concretely, three categories of paid transport will appear: special transport, bringing together light vehicles with drivers and collective taxis; station taxis using a taximeter; and street taxis, working with an app.
Vehicles must be less than seven years old and the operating license will last a maximum of seven years, depending on the age limit of the vehicle which is reached seven years after the date of first registration. Electronic intermediation services (such as Uber, Bolt, Heetch, etc.) must also have a license, valid for five years and renewable.
According to the reform, the number of station taxis and street taxis will be limited for each category to one vehicle per 1,500 inhabitants of the municipality (compared to one per 2,500 inhabitants for all taxis previously). An exemption is provided for taxis equipped for the transport of people with reduced mobility.
Minimum prices are set by the Walloon government. They vary depending on the reservation via an electronic transport intermediation service or not, depending on the mileage, waiting costs but also whether or not a trip is carried out at night.
Finally, to increase customer safety, the certificate of capacity, listing the full identity of the driver, his experience, the name of the operator, etc., must be visibly displayed on board each vehicle. A complaints management system will also be put in place by the Region.
The FWB facilitator certificate also recognized in France
From December 1, the “holiday center facilitator” certificate approved by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will also be recognized in France. This has already been the case in the other direction for several years: the French BAFA certificate (for “brevet d’aptitude aux functions d’animator”) is recognized in FWB as equivalent to the Belgian “BACV”.
From now on, recognition is mutual and should facilitate the mobility of facilitators on both sides of the border.
In FWB, 27 approved organizations offer facilitator training, from 16 years old. The certificate allows you to supervise children and young people in holiday centers, homework schools or extra-curricular activities.
Sex workers now protected by an employment contract
From December 1, 2024, men and women who work in prostitution will be able to perform their services within the framework of an employment contract, similar to any other worker, indicated the office of the Federal Minister of Labor, Pierre- Yves Dermagne, at the origin of this progress.
This new law on the status of sex workers (TDS), adopted on May 3, now grants social status to prostitutes who until now operated in a gray zone where their work was tolerated without being recognized.
Concretely, the employment contract will guarantee social security coverage and compliance with the rules relating in particular to the duration of working time or remuneration. The new law will also guarantee these workers protection against risks at their workplace.
These workers will also have the right to refuse clients and sexual acts without this being grounds for dismissal, while they will be able to interrupt or stop the activity at any time. They will also have the opportunity to impose their own conditions on the sexual activity or act.
The new law specifies that the sex worker can resign without notice or compensation.
The employer, for his part, will be obliged to guarantee the permanent availability of a trusted person, regardless of the number of workers he employs. He will also be responsible for equipping the rooms where sex work is carried out with an emergency button.
Pimping remains prohibited. If an employer uses sex workers outside the established legal framework, he may therefore be prosecuted.
The new law is the result of two years of work, developed by the Labor, Social Affairs and Justice cabinets, in consultation with local associations.
