Voka is looking for workers in Mexico and India

And that is absolutely necessary. The West Flemish economy is sputtering because the tightness on the labor market is only increasing. Activating non-active people is no longer enough. And due to new major investments in northern France, the French who are still working in West Flanders will soon be able to start working in their country. In addition, the local pond has been fished out. That is why Voka West Flanders wants to go to Mexico and India to bring workers here.

Bert Mons, Voka West-Vlaanderen: “The next step will be to go to Mexico with West Flemish companies in a very concrete way to make agreements with the local authorities and to make very concrete efforts to attract Mexican talent.”

Unilin

Unilin in Wielsbeke goes along with that story, because here too it has become a continuous struggle to fill the many vacancies. Unilin teaches people specific competencies in a new training center, but is forced to look abroad as well. Nick Leenaert, Talent Director Unilin: “Mexico was chosen because the work ethic is good there. The level of education is good. And then we try to bring those people here. People often speak of circular migration. What do we mean by that: very often we see after a number of years that the talent also returns to the motherland.”

This mainly concerns all technical profiles from Mexico and India, for which Voka is asking West Flanders to urgently set up a structure.