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Demonty, Bernard
4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Ryanair must become more social
A Belgian court has allowed the Irish budget airline Ryanair to continue employing Belgian workers according to Ireland's considerably more lax labour laws. The daily Le Soir wishes for a more social stance on the part of the company toward its workers and passengers: "To fend off criticism Ryanair often dredges up the argument that thanks to it people who couldn't travel before are now criss-crossing the continent. That is true, but Ryanair could not accomplish this honourable goal without using such dishonourable contracts. ... In addition it would hardly hurt the company to refrain from making provocative and malicious announcements like the plans to make overweight passengers pay for two seats. The reforms that Europe and states like Belgium must impose on the airline if it does not budge will leave the Ryanair model intact. So what are they waiting for?"
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » Economic Policy, » Justice, » Ireland, » Belgium, » Europe
Benoît Poelvoorde cannot see the divison of Belgium
In an interview conducted by Philippe Manche and Bernard Demonty, the Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde defends the unity of his country, which has been going through a political crisis for more than five months. "When you film two fools tearing up a Belgian flag, it's only two fools. It isn't the entire Flemish community. Not all Flemish people tear up Belgian flags. The problem is that if you put two people burning a flag on the front page, all the Walloons stand there, bound to say, 'I have a feeling we're not so appreciated in the Flanders region'. ... It's important to fight to get across the message that our country also thrives on this sort of fragility of two communities obliged to respect one another. ... I am convinced that Belgium will not split, because citizens will eventually have their say again."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Print media, » Belgium
All available articles from » Benoît Poelvoorde, » Philippe Manche
The liberalisation of the postal sector in Europe
Bernard Dermonty underlines the difficulties that the liberalisation of the postal sector is confronted with. "Right from 2009 the post's competitors are going to pounce upon the juicy market of big company post, leaving the good old Belgian post office the unprofitable task of catering to individuals such as ourselves. ... In order to save its skin, the post office will have no choice but to increase the price of stamps. And that will not be enough to entirely finance the delivery of the post to individuals. It is therefore far from granted that what has worked for the phone and planes will benefit letters. Americans, who can hardly be suspected of worshipping public services, have in fact given up the idea of opening up post delivery. Why then does the Commission want to go so far so fast and before even having resolved such a crucial problem as this one? If you know, please write to us. Before 2009, to be on the safe side"
» to the homepage (external link, Le Soir)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Corporations, » Europe
Can employers refuse to hire smokers?
While the daily features the ironic headline "The token smoker you'll hire", journalist Bernard Demonty pens an article in which he comments on the "tolerance" of Irish employer Philip Tobin. "Belgium isn't Ireland. An Irish company director caused a sensation when he announced he would not hire smokers. He went even further, by frankly telling smokers not to bother applying. But here such job discrimination is strictly forbidden. Smokers can rest assured: the law passed on February 25th 2003 outlaws all forms of discrimination. Legal experts questioned all agree on that. Belgian legislation covers a wider scope than its European counterpart. And everybody thinks that is fine."
» to the homepage (external link, Le Soir)
More from the press review on the subject » Health Policy, » Belgium
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