Walloon Economy Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet’s plan to hand over restructuring programmes to private operators, as revealed by Le Soir, has been met with strong opposition from the Walloon branch of the FGTB union.
Jeholet (MR) is seeking to reform job transition programmes in Wallonia by adopting the Brussels and Flanders model, proposing to reduce trade union involvement.
The Walloon Minister highlighted that the region's job transition programmes are underperforming, pointing to a reemployment rate of 56.5%, a 20% decline from 2023.
He explained that these programmes currently run for a year in Wallonia, with a possible extension of an additional year. In contrast, in Flanders and Brussels, the programmes last for only six months before the VDAB or Actiris takes over, which facilitates quicker worker support.
'Attacking unions'
The socialist union describes the minister’s presented figures as a "gross manipulation" aimed at dismantling a valuable tool.
Restructuring programmes are initiated at the request of trade unions in the event of company bankruptcies or mass layoffs in Wallonia to help those who have lost their jobs secure new employment.
Minister Jeholet wants these programmes to be managed by private operators instead of being funded by Forem and the regional government. He predicts a reintegration rate of 56.5% in 2024, marking a 20% decrease from the previous year.
The FGTB argues that last year’s figures were skewed by a high number of long-term ill workers from courier company TNT. Correcting this bias, the union claims, would show a true reintegration rate of 65.87% for 2024.
They note that most beneficiaries of the restructuring programmes are over the age of 45, often without secondary education qualifications, and have spent "20 to 30 years in the same company."
"The minister is not attacking an inefficient system; he’s attacking the unions," asserts the FGTB. They argue this is because the unions are effective where others fail and resist turning employment into a commodity.
While the union is open to partially involving private operators, it refuses to be excluded. Handing over restructuring to temp agencies would be unwise, as these firms "proliferate precarious contracts and neglect older workers."
The FGTB has requested a meeting with the Walloon Parliament to put forward its position.
Walloon Minister Jeholet noted that the current system costs the Walloon budget and Forem €10 million annually, with €4 million allocated to union-employed social counsellors.
He aims to hold employers accountable by having them cover the costs and outplacement services, suggesting partnerships with private firms like Randstad RiceSmart, LHH, Ascento, Travvant, ATH, or Right Management.
