22,000 hospitality jobs declared due to 'white cash register'

The 'white cash register', or new smart cash register, has led to 22,000 extra jobs being declared in the hospitality industry, writes Het Laatste Nieuws based on data from the National Social Security Office (ONSS). According to Horeca Flanders director Danny Van Assche, while the white cash register is definitely fulfilling its function, the jobs are not new, but official, as they “were previously performed under the table.”

Since 1 January, 2016, all restaurants and bars across Belgium are obliged to have a white cash register, which accurately records their sales. The purpose of the new cash register is to combat the use of undeclared workers in the food and drinks service industry, "We are not there yet, but we're getting closer to our goal," says Van Assche.

In the third quarter of last year, ONSS recorded 22,000 more jobs in the catering industry than a year earlier. In addition, €45.9 million more income was reported.