The Belgian government has approved a key policy change allowing the diamond industry to hire foreign polishers and sorters without prior labor-market shortage verification. The move addresses an acute skills gap and supports Antwerp’s position as a leading global diamond hub, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) announced.

With the new provision, foreign specialists can now obtain a combined work-and-residence permit more quickly, giving companies smoother access to critical talent.

This decision comes at a pivotal time, enabling Antwerp to fully leverage its recent agreement with the US government. Under the deal, natural diamonds polished within the European Union are exempt from US import tariffs—making Antwerp the only major trading center with tariff-free access to the American market. The city currently exports approximately USD 2.1 billion in polished diamonds to the US each year.

The policy shift is expected to enhance Antwerp’s global competitiveness and support sustained growth in Belgium’s diamond industry.