2023-08-03 16:43:00
The Flemish authorities are exploring all avenues to reduce the labor shortage. It is now the newcomers who will be involved. Bart Somers, the Flemish Minister in charge of the Reception Policy (Open VLD) has announced his intention to oblige newcomers to Flanders who do not have a diploma to train for a job in short supply. The Flemish government gave the green light to the device on Thursday.
This training will be part of the welcome course. This already includes training in Dutch, social orientation, registration with the Flemish employment and training service (VDAB) and a mentoring programme.
Coming into force and compulsory since 2003, the Flemish integration program is aimed at all adult foreigners living in the Flemish Region who have obtained a residence permit for more than three months for the first time. The obligation also concerns Belgians born abroad, of whom at least one parent was born abroad and whose first registration in the national register did not exceed twelve months. Some minors must also follow it.
First free, the integration course became paid on January 1, 2023 in Flanders. Newcomers subject to the obligation must pay 180 euros to take Dutch lessons and have personalized social support. This, despite the obligation to follow these modules.
Unlike France, a “job in short supply” residence permit for undocumented migrants is struggling to convince in Belgium
Butcher or caregiver
In 2023, Flanders had some 72,000 newcomers, of whom a very large proportion (30,000) were Ukrainians. The latter do not have to follow the integration course.
We are certainly not going to organize a new economic migration for professions in shortage when there are enough people at home
According to the latest data, 35% of newcomers do not have a secondary school diploma in their pocket. Flanders struggles to integrate them into the world of work. Currently, only 17% of low-skilled women have a job after two years. For men, the figure is 36%. By mobilizing these people, the Flemish government avoids having to seek additional labor abroad, as is the case with the single permit, which has met with great success. “We are certainly not going to organize a new economic migration for professions in shortage when there are enough people at home”, thus assured Mr. Somers in the columns of the Nieuwblad.
The labor shortage is particularly acute in Flanders. The list of professions looking for arms covers most sectors of society, ranging from truck drivers to nurses, cooks and butchers.
After several postponements, the integration course for newcomers will be compulsory in Brussels in June
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