ESL Blogs

In the last few years, economy in Belqium has badly declined. In Wallonia, steel companies went out of business, as in Flanders, those making cars, as Ford, laid off a large number of their employees. In both cases, those companies were the pride of Belgium.

The minimum rate wages before income is about 1250 euros per month. To answer Expector's question, the average taxes rate is around 43% but it can go up to 70% ( for people who make A LOT of money) Most of us work the 6 first month of the year for the State !!!

In 2003, unemployment rate was 7.20 %, unfortunately, nowadays, it went up to 11.50 %.

In Belgium, people who loose their job get money from the State until they find a new job. That means that, a high percentage of people don't even try to find something anymore. The first year, they receive about 80% of their last salary and after being unemployed for 1 year, those who live with their family get around 300 euros per month, and those who live alone receive a bit more than 800 euros, and this, as long as they don't have a job. I know a man who took advantage of this system for more than 25 years !!!

As you can guess, 800 euros is far to be enough to live on in a country as Belgium, that's why many people work under the table and this bad system makes the deficit of our economy worst. It's a vicious circle!!!

None of our ministers want to change this as it would be a very anti-social low and all our politicians want, is to be popular for the elections . Isn't the same everywhere in the world ?

The average rental of a 2 bedrooms house goes, depending on where it is located, bewteen 600 and 1200 euros per month. For a flat from 450 up to 1000 euros or more if you wish to live in Brussels.

Belgium is said to have a very good social system. For exemple, when we need to see the family doctor, we can call him and he will come in our home for a visit which will cost 33 euros. 2/3 of that amound will be paied by the State. If we prefer to visit him at his office we will pay 24 euros and will get around 19 euros back for the State. Many basic important drugs are payed, for a part, by the State, those for high blood pressure, heart illnesses and diabetes.

When going to the hospital for surgery, we pay most part of the bill if we are in a private room, but if we stay in a room with 3 other people, we will hardly pay nothing.

Education, which is obligatory between the age of 6 and 18 years old, is said to be free and most part of it is financed by one of our 3 communities (dutch, french and german). But it still cost us around 200 euros per child in primary school, around 300 euros (depending of the school) for teenagers in high school and for those who go to university or college, tuition fees are between 100 and 600 euros per year depending on the income of the student's family. At this sum, once has to add the price of all the books and material once need when going to school.

Ohh, what i wrote tonight was not so much fun, but i tried to explain you why so many people think our country is a little social paradise. I hope i've not bothered you:))

Next : belgian food specialities and places where to go

For those who want to read the first part, go to :http://my.englishclub.com/profiles/blogs/my-complex-tiny-country