Hilde Crevits points to the federal government’s responsibility for activation: “Very easy to put the blame on others” | Inland

As is known, the federal government concluded a labor deal on Monday night. This contains measures to boost the employment rate in our country to 80 percent by 2030. The regions that are responsible for the activation policy are also considered.

“I felt a bit uneasy when I heard the Prime Minister say that activation is a task for the regions. He forgets — perhaps consciously — to say that the regions need the federal level for this,” Minister Crevits responded on Wednesday.

She cites the example of the 250,000 long-term sick in Flanders, many of whom would like to be active. The problem is that it sometimes takes one to one and a half years before a return to work is discussed.

She wants an agreement with the federal government to have this guidance to work by the VDAB happen earlier. “I can’t take any extra steps without help from the federal government. It’s very easy to put the blame on others.”

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasizes that Flanders also wants to achieve that 80 percent employment rate. “But before that I would like to see a federal government that is subservient,” said Crevits, who advocates a “Copernican revolution” in labor market policy.

She cites the example of counseling temporary job seekers. “At the start of the corona crisis, I didn’t know who was temporarily looking for work. We had to get the numbers. I actually find that incomprehensible.”

That is why she insists on working towards an asymmetric policy. After all, the needs in Flanders are different from those in Wallonia, but that requires a separate agreement with the federal government. “I’ve been given formal engagements, but the egg hasn’t been laid yet,” he said.