A job fair is being held at the asylum reception centre on Antwerp’s Linkeroever. Around 100 foreign-language speakers from the asylum centre and the neighbourhood have registered. “It may be an unusual location for a job fair, but in a tight labour market, every talent is welcome,” says provincial VDAB director Bjorn Cuyt.
Seven companies are participating from the cleaning, construction and industrial sectors, three sectors in the 10 most in-demand professions. The temporary employment sector is also taking part, to promote other sectors.
Cuyt: “It has been deliberately kept small-scale because we really want to match the companies with the skills of the people.”
Asylum seekers want to work “because it gives them an opportunity to build a life here”, he adds. “They just don’t always find the right companies and are unfamiliar with the labour market. Working with the Red Cross, asylum agency Fedasil and the temporary employment sector, we want to make that a little easier by putting them in touch with companies here.”
We want to make it a little easier by putting them in touch with companies here
Asylum seekers are allowed to work in Belgium four months after submitting their asylum application.
“They are very motivated to do so. They often find their own way into employment, but obstacles such as poor language skills, mobility or digital illiteracy present additional challenges,” says Cuyt.
“These are people who meet all the conditions to work here. We expect around 100 interested people. These are people who are staying in the asylum centre, as well as people from the neighbourhood who are not very proficient in the language.’