Less than one in three Flemish municipalities will soon oblige the long-term unemployed to perform certain jobs two days a week. A total of 89 cities and municipalities and five Antwerp districts registered for the mandatory community service of the Flemish government, writes Het Nieuwsblad.
Less than a year before the elections, the Flemish community service for the long-term unemployed seems to be shooting out of the starting blocks. The intention is that everyone who has been out of work for two years is obliged to start working. They must perform certain tasks for a minimum of one and a maximum of two days a week for six months.
They receive 1.30 euros per hour on top of their benefit, a symbolic compensation because the Constitutional Court had previously ruled that otherwise it would be forced labor.
Ultimately, 94 local authorities participate. Together they will offer the unemployed 819 jobs – ‘apprenticeships’ in the jargon. The European recovery money with which the places are funded has convinced many municipalities.
For the time being, most municipalities are still in the start-up phase. They are often still waiting for the VDAB, which must allocate unemployed people. They will eventually end up with the green service, childcare or other tasks.
N-VA, Open Vld and CD&V
Almost all participating municipalities are led by a mayor of the N-VA, Open Vld or CD&V. Not surprising, since they are also in the Flemish government. Greens and Socialists are against the system. The socialist trade union ABVV is also opposed to the plan.
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