If the number of people who are today on “corona” unemployment is close to zero – life having more or less resumed its course – some Belgians nevertheless risk continuing to sleep poorly because of this measure.
Like Stéphane (assumed name), a 28-year-old Walloon, who had a very bad surprise a few months ago. He indeed received an invitation to reimburse the “corona” unemployment he had received for several months in 2020, at the start of the crisis.
According to the ONEM, his boss did not correctly justify his request for temporary unemployment and Stéphane therefore unduly received more than 2,000 euros. “The boss puts me on coronavirus unemployment, I follow what I am told, I stay at home. We are given aid, then claim it after investigation… After a year… it’s still crazy, ”explained the young man to our colleagues from RTL.
Given the situation, Stéphane inquired with the FGTB, which will ask employers to finally pay Stéphane for the periods during which he had received “corona” unemployment. “There, I have the impression of being a bit of a victim of the state. We’ve been living with the coronavirus since 2020, it’s getting harder and harder so it’s still on top… It’s very complicated, ”laments Stéphane.
In reality, ONEM has three years to claim amounts unduly paid. Given the exceptional situation and the rapid payment of compensation during the crisis, some mistakes were made. With, as a consequence, a bad surprise for many compatriots. In total, during the pandemic, more than 1.7 million workers affected corona unemployment in Belgium.