New figures from the Flemish employment service, the VDAB, show that 17 per cent of people who lost their unemployment benefits in January and February have found work once again. People who have been unemployed for 20 years or more now no longer qualify for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefits are being limited to two years, but benefits to existing claimants are being removed gradually. Among the group of young people who lost their employment integration benefit in the first months of this year, as many as 32 per cent have now found a job.
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Nearly a fifth of claimants who lost unemployment benefits in January after 20 years are back at work
Colin Clapson
Published:
At the end of January, the VDAB counted 3,626 job seekers who lost their benefits between 1 January and 28 February and who are deemed able to return to work. In this group, 23 per cent or 856 people found work again.
This 23 per cent includes both people who have been unemployed for more than 20 years and young people who lost their employment integration benefit. However, there are clear differences.
Of the 1,582 job seekers under the age of 25, 32 per cent or 516 youngsters found a new job.
Of the 2,044 job seekers who have been receiving benefits for 20 years or more, 17 per cent are now in work.
There is also a group of job seekers who have been advised to apply for other benefits. For them, the step towards employment is (at present) too big.
‘Proof that it works’
‘These are encouraging figures. And this is partly thanks to the intensive and persistent guidance provided by the VDAB. Limiting unemployment over time (a Belgian government measure) is proving its worth. The federal government has therefore made the right and courageous choice,’ says Flemish employment minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist N-VA).
But this is only the beginning, according to Demir. ‘If we want to turn these initial figures into a structural success story, everyone will have to step up their efforts.’
That is why Demir, together with Flemish entrepreneurs and the VDAB, is launching a joint statement of commitment to work together even more closely. In this way, they want to get even more people into work.