Several hundred million euros will be allocated from 2026 onwards to help public social welfare centres, CPAS, handle the effects of refoprms to Belgium's system of unemployment benefits, Federal Labour Minister David Clarinval (MR) said on Tuesday.
Clarinval made the announcement on the RTBF’s morning programme, La Premiere.
Previously, the Federal Government had only suggested a figure of €50 million for next year.
In 2027, the sum of €300 million is expected to be allocated and, Clarinval said, “an amount of the same magnitude” will be allocated next year. However, he noted that the exact amounts are still being determined.
This funding will enable the CPAS to hire staff to manage the influx of applications for support expected from individuals excluded from unemployment benefits from 2026 onward.
About 180,000 people will be excluded from unemployment benefits after two years of inactivity, according to the minister's estimates. One-third of them are currently so distanced from employment that they are unlikely to find work, so they will seek social assistance, he acknowledged.
