2023-04-25 04:41:00
On February 24, 2022, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia began. Since then, 68,487 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection on our territory, according to the latest figures on the matter published by Statbel. Protection that allows you to obtain financial assistance. A living wage as it is called, the amount of which is now disputed by the N-VA. “More than a year after the start of the war, we still have a moral responsibility to welcome these Ukrainians, mainly women, whose men there are fighting for our freedoms too. What is not normal, on the other hand, is the amount of this living wage granted here to these refugees with special status”, denounces the federal deputy NV-A, Theo Francken.
He is therefore tabling a bill aimed at reviewing the amount of this aid granted to thousands of Ukrainians living in Belgium. “This aid allows several families to reach amounts of 3 to 4,000 euros per month! Count 1640 euros monthly per parent and 809 euros for adult children who live with the parents. If two Ukrainian women live together, for example, they will each receive 1,640 euros. Add to this the allowances for minor children too. These sums cannot be considered a living wage. It is enormous ! Our neighbors do not pay such amounts! In the Netherlands, the aid granted in this way is 60% lower.
Moreover, it is paid weekly and not in large sums in a month”, adds Theo Francken who, in his commune of Lubbeek, has thus decided to split up the aid granted to Ukrainians by week. Aid whose conditions and amounts are however set by the federal government. “I had already introduced a bill a year ago to limit this aid a year ago but Vivaldi had voted against it. For the year 2023 alone, the budget for this aid is set at 372 million euros! It’s colossal. We cannot allow ourselves to grant such amounts without interruption over time,” continues Theo Francken, for whom this aid is also and above all a brake on putting Ukrainians to work.
“In Poland, the amounts are much lower and almost 10 out of 10 Ukrainians are now working. In the Netherlands, we are talking about 8 out of 10 Ukrainians at work. With us, we are at 2 out of 10! How do you want to encourage people to accept a job if they receive such high amounts?”
Several examples of Ukrainian families receiving 4,000 euros per month in support, Theo Francken adds that the controls are very complicated in terms of the use of these aids. “Some people pay this money to their relatives in Ukraine, others told me again this weekend that several were going on ‘holiday’ in Ukraine before returning to Belgium. It is high time to hold a debate in the House on these aids. We have to be able to stimulate at work too and that’s not how we’re going to get there”, concludes Theo Francken.
Of the 68,487 Ukrainians who applied for temporary protection in Belgium, the majority are women. 48% of people requiring crisis accommodation are in Flanders, 32% in Wallonia and 16% in Brussels.
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