Social Integration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (Flemish nationalist N-VA) has just announced the new measure in a circular. The reason is the murder of a social services employee in Ghent last summer. A 56-year-old social worker was killed during a home visit in the Nieuw Gent neighbourhood of the East Flemish capital earlier in the year.
Aggression against social services workers can lead to the withdrawal or non-granting of benefits
Colin Clapson
Published:
According to Minister Van Bossuyt, there is a growing problem of aggression against social workers, including local social services employees during the hours they are doing their job. The new circular letter has been sent to all OCMWs, i.e. local social services, across the country.
The letter states that any demonstrable form of aggression towards OCMW social workers should result in the withdrawal of social benefits or the refusal to grant any.
‘Where aggression begins, solidarity ends’
Aggression is not limited to physical violence, Van Bossuyt explains. Physical threats, verbal abuse or intimidation can also lead to measures being taken. ‘Where aggression begins, our solidarity must end,’ she says.
If safety cannot be guaranteed, OCMW employees should not make home visits. Local social services retain their autonomy to assess each case individually, the minister emphasises.