Belgium's Job Plus and France's apprenticeship aid launch 2026 hiring subsidies

From 1 July 2026 Belgium will replace multiple hiring subsidies with a single programme called Job Plus, administered through the Forem platform and in partnership with local CPAS centres. Employers hiring workers who are distant from the labour market can receive a monthly financial support of €1,644‑€1,918 for up to 12 months, amounting to more than €20,000 per employee, and may combine it with other payroll reductions.

A separate decree issued on 6 March 2026 re‑establishes an exceptional hiring aid for apprentices in France. The aid varies by qualification level – €5,000 for contracts leading to a Baccalauréat or lower, €4,500 for Bac+2, and €6,000 for apprentices recognised as disabled – and applies only to the first year of the contract. It is targeted at firms with fewer than 250 staff and is available for contracts signed between 8 March 2026 and 31 December 2026.