Walloon Service Voucher System Set for Major Reform

The Walloon region of Belgium is preparing to reform its “titres-services” (service voucher) system, a heavily subsidized program that allows households to purchase vouchers for domestic help at reduced prices. Minister of Employment Pierre-Yves Jeholet (MR) has declared that the current model is reaching its limits, citing profitability problems, heavy subsidization, staff shortages, an aging workforce, and user costs approaching a threshold that could drive consumers toward undeclared work.

“We are reaching the end of a model. The situation is difficult,” Jeholet told Le Soir, adding that the sector faces what he called “the squaring of the circle.” The reform process will begin on Tuesday, May 19, when a commissioned report from Idea Consult — covering data through the end of 2024 — is presented to the Walloon Parliament commission.

Context: A System Under Strain

Created in 2004 at the federal level to combat undeclared work and create formal employment in domestic services, the titres-services system has become a cornerstone of household support in Belgium. Users purchase vouchers at a subsidized price — currently ranging from EUR10 to EUR12 depending on volume — and use them to pay cleaning personnel employed by accredited companies. The system is now managed regionally, with Wallonia, Flanders, and Brussels each operating their own frameworks.

In Wallonia, companies are reimbursed approximately EUR29.95 per voucher by the regional government. However, the system is heavily dependent on public funding — roughly 70% of company financing comes from public subsidies — and the sector is the only one in Wallonia that failed to conclude a sectoral wage agreement for 2023-2024.

According to L’Avenir, over 90% of service voucher workers are women, and the sector is described as aging with significant recruitment difficulties. Jeholet warned in April 2025 that “the service voucher system is threatened. We must make the system more attractive and take into account the well-being of the workers. Otherwise, it will no longer be viable.”

Failed Negotiations and Political Pressure

The path to reform has been marked by failed social dialogue. On May 20, 2025, after a full day of negotiations, unions and employers failed to reach a sectoral wage agreement, with unions announcing short-term protest actions. Jeholet had set a deadline of June 6, 2025, for a deal, threatening to take unilateral action if none was reached.

As reported by Sudinfo, the minister threatened to reduce the regional subsidy by EUR1 — from EUR29.95 to EUR28.95 per voucher — if employers did not agree to better wage conditions. “I want to put pressure so that there is a social agreement. I want to make the system sustainable and ensure a fair wage for the workers,” Jeholet stated.

The Socialist Party (PS), now in opposition, has been pushing for stronger worker protections. Deputy Eliane Tillieux called on Jeholet to “make the interests of workers prevail over those of shareholders,” demanding strict control or elimination of administrative fees charged by companies, according to Sudinfo. “It is time for the government’s political declarations to translate into concrete actions. Words are no longer enough,” Tillieux said.

Legal Uncertainty and Administrative Fees

A key point of contention involves administrative fees. A 2023 reform under the previous PS-MR-Ecolo government banned companies from charging additional fees to users. However, the Council of State suspended this ban on October 4, 2024, following a legal challenge by Home Clean Services. Companies may now charge supplementary fees but must inform users transparently, as detailed on the official Titres-Services Wallonie website.

Jeholet confirmed in the Walloon Parliament in May 2025 that his office is finalizing analysis on reducing the regional subsidy via a government decree. “This will be the initiative I will take if there is no agreement in the joint committee,” he stated, as reported by Le Soir.

What’s Next

The presentation of the Idea Consult report on May 19 will mark the formal beginning of the reform process, with parliamentary commission hearings and exchanges to follow. The minister has outlined general directions — including potential subsidy reductions and regulated administrative fees — but the exact legislative proposal has yet to be presented.

Key questions remain unanswered: What specific measures will the reform include? Will new legislation be required, or can changes be enacted via ministerial decree? And crucially, how will the reform affect the tens of thousands of households and workers who depend on the system?

As Wallonia navigates these challenges, the outcome will have significant implications for one of Belgium’s most popular social programs — and for the delicate balance between affordability for users, fair wages for workers, and financial sustainability for taxpayers.