There is therefore still a staff shortage in Belgian prisons, but that has shrunk. In July last year there was still an occupancy of 94 percent. There are now 600 open places. That is why job days are organized in the prisons where the most staff is still needed: Haren, Dendermonde, Beveren and Mechelen.
Van Quickenborne points out that an accelerated contractual recruitment procedure was introduced last summer. Since July 2022, the prisons can recruit locally, offering a contract of up to two years, with the option to switch to a statutory appointment. Within a few weeks after the application and medical tests, the new employees can start working.
There is now a particular need for security assistants, security assistants and detention supervisors, but also for administrative staff, social assistants and nurses.