Wallonia: a decree supports the job seeker who starts their own business

The Walloon Government has adopted a decree dated July 16, 2026, granting temporary financial aid to job seekers establishing themselves as primary self-employed workers. The text, published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge) No. 192 of August 27, 2026 (p. 47000), entrusts the management of the scheme to FOREm and provides for administrative fines ranging from €200 to €8,000 in cases of fraud.

Titled “Decree relating to the support of the job seeker in their return to work through the creation of their activity as a primary self-employed person” [C − 2026/006297], the text was adopted by the Walloon Parliament in a plenary session on July 15, 2026, and sanctioned in Namur on July 16, 2026. It repeals and replaces the decree of October 27, 2011, relating to the support of job creation by promoting professional transitions to the status of primary self-employed worker.

A financial incentive to secure the launch

The decree establishes an “incentive,” a financial aid intended to encourage the job seeker to launch themselves as a primary self-employed worker in order to support their professional reintegration through the self-creation of their employment. The base amount is set by the Government and may be indexed.

• The incentive is paid out progressively in three installments over a maximum period of two years.
• The beneficiary must remain a primary self-employed worker throughout the payment period.
• They may only receive income derived from their self-employed activity.
• FOREm is responsible for the payment of the incentive and budget monitoring.

Strict eligibility conditions

To benefit from the incentive, the job seeker must satisfy cumulative conditions, including:

• being domiciled in the Walloon Region;
• being registered as a job seeker with FOREm for at least four months;
• presenting a project for the creation or takeover of a business whose establishment unit or operating headquarters is located in Wallonia;
• providing a certificate of completion of a support program from a recognized structure;
• no longer receiving, upon establishment, other professional income, unemployment benefits, integration income, or financial social assistance;
• being affiliated with an approved social insurance fund for self-employed workers.

The beneficiary must start their activity within ninety days following the granting decision. Furthermore, the decree excludes persons practicing a regulated liberal profession, those who have been convicted of fraud, corruption, or money laundering, and those who do not comply with their social security or tax contribution obligations.

Administrative fines against fraud

The chapter dedicated to sanctions provides for two levels of administrative fines:

• a fine of €200 to €2,000 for anyone who continues to receive professional income, unemployment benefits, integration income, or financial social assistance at the time of the payment of the first installment of the incentive;
• a fine of €800 to €8,000 for anyone who has voluntarily provided incorrect information to FOREm in order to receive the incentive, or who falls under one of the exclusion cases and has nevertheless requested the aid.

Monitoring is carried out in accordance with the decree of February 28, 2019, relating to the monitoring of legislation and regulations regarding economic and employment policy. FOREm may recover undue payments and refuse the payment of installments.

Entry into force and evaluation

The decree enters into force on a date set by the Government and no later than January 1, 2027. A pre-evaluation of the system will be carried out by FOREm at the end of the first year, followed by a full evaluation every three years, focusing on the effects of the measure on professional reintegration through self-employment. Applications submitted before the entry into force remain governed by the decree of October 27, 2011.

For business creators in Wallonia, this new framework financially secures the startup phase while tightening controls against abuse, with administrative sanctions that can reach €8,000. The system falls within the framework of European de minimis aid and can be combined with other public aid and European Structural Funds.

Official source: Belgian Official Gazette n°192, August 27, 2026, p. 47000 — Decree of July 16, 2026, relating to the support of the job seeker in their return to work through the creation of their activity as a primary self-employed person [C − 2026/006297].