The liberal union CGSLB becomes SYNOVA as of September 15

The General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (CGSLB) is changing its name to SYNOVA. Two royal decrees signed by King Philippe on August 5, 2026, published in the Belgian Official Gazette on September 3, 2026 (p. 48105), formalize this new name, which takes effect on September 15, 2026.

The two texts, adopted on the proposal of the Minister of Employment, concern respectively the distribution of mandates on the National Labour Council and the unemployment benefit payment body established by the union.

A renewed name on the National Labour Council

The first royal decree, referenced [2026/201927], amends the royal decree of March 4, 2010, establishing the distribution of mandates for the most representative workers’ organizations within the National Labour Council. It is based on the organic law of May 29, 1952, of the National Labour Council, in its Article 2, § 4, paragraph 3, and § 7.

• Article 1 replaces the name “General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium” with “SYNOVA”.
• Article 2 sets the date of entry into force as September 15, 2026.
• Article 3 charges the Minister of Employment with the execution of the decree.

The text, exempt from a regulatory impact analysis as a formal decision, received the opinion of the Finance Inspector on June 1, 2026, and the agreement of the Minister of Budget on June 17, 2026.

Statutes of the payment body approved

The second royal decree, referenced [2026/201928], approves the updated statutes of the unemployment benefit payment body established by the CGSLB.

• Article 1 approves the statutes of June 5, 2026, filed on June 16, 2026, with the Minister of Employment.
• Article 2 acknowledges that the CGSLB is changing its name to SYNOVA.
• Article 3 sets the date of entry into force as September 15, 2026.
• Article 4 charges the Minister of Employment with the execution of the decree.

Both decrees were issued at Île d’Yeu on August 5, 2026, and signed by King Philippe.

A new identity for social dialogue

This change of name modifies neither the legal nature nor the prerogatives of the liberal union, but it renews its identity within the social consultation bodies. The CGSLB, the third largest trade union organization in the country, thus retains its place within the National Labour Council and its unemployment benefit payment body, now under the name SYNOVA.

The publication in the Belgian Official Gazette on September 3, 2026 (196th year, No. 199) makes these two decrees enforceable against third parties. For affiliated workers and social partners, the essential point is that the continuity of mandates and payment services is guaranteed: only the name changes, effective September 15, 2026.

Official source: Belgian Official Gazette of September 3, 2026, p. 48105 — Royal Decrees [2026/201927] and [2026/201928] of August 5, 2026.