Brussels lawmakers approved ordinances to raise service voucher prices and abolish the tax deduction, effective January, to increase cleaners’ earnings without harming the budget.

MR party leader Clémentine Barzin criticized the measures, warning of risks to the system and potential shifts to undeclared work.

The measures received broad cross‑party support (PS, Ecolo, Les Engagés, PTB, Groen); MR proposed an alternative of keeping the deduction but reducing the price increase, which was rejected.

Service vouchers will cost €11.40 each from €10.20, an increase of €1.20, with a small group paying €14 per voucher if they purchase more than 300 annually.

Total annual cost of the service voucher system in Brussels is €320 million, with some costs reclaimable via income tax deductions; abolition of the deduction is projected to generate around €19 million for the Brussels budget from 2028 onward.

Brussels’ Labour and Economy Minister Bernard Clerfayt argued that eliminating the deduction and increasing price would still leave legal employment more affordable than black-market rates, as legal service-voucher cost will be €11.40 from January.

Draft ordinances are expected to be approved at the next plenary session.

The administrative cost cap on service voucher companies will be abolished, allowing higher charges and aiming to boost workers’ hourly wages.

The Brussels parliament had previously urged government action to raise cleaners' salaries with retroactive effect to maintain parity with Flanders and Wallonia, a move estimated to cost about €13.5 million for Brussels this year.

Prices for Brussels vouchers have risen significantly in recent years (from €9 in 2023; Flanders currently charges €10 for the first 400 and €11 for the last 100, and has abolished the tax deduction).