Digital signature for temping contracts

Each year around half a million people work for an employment agency for at least one day. Around 10 million contracts of employment are drawn up by employment agencies each year. Most of these are currently sent by post.

The signed contracts are normally returned by post. The introduction of a digital system for temporary employment contracts should serve to reduce the amount of paper used and the number of stamps bought Federgon’s Ann Cattelain told journalists.

The very first digital employment contract was signed on Monday morning by the Minister responsible for the digital agenda in Belgium’s Federal Government Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal). Speaking at Monday’s launch, Mr De Croo said that the contracts form part of a wider digitalisation project.

Mr De Croo eluded to the Digital Act that will be put before the European Parliament next year. Once it becomes law the Digital Act will ensure that that digital signatures and documents sent digitally will have the same legal value as paper documents.