In an effort to ensure that the Belgian State employs people with disabilities, certain vacancies in the Federal Government will now be open only to those with a disability, announced Minister for Civil Service Petra De Sutter on Friday.
Along with age and physical characteristics, having a disability is the main cause of discrimination in the labour market, research in Flanders and field tests carried out in Ghent and Antwerp show.
"As an employer, the Federal Government is keen to be a reflection of society. It seems to be moving in the right direction but it is going slowly," said De Sutter. "That is why we are pulling out all the stops to give everyone every opportunity."
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For years, the government has set itself the target of filling 3% of all jobs in the administration with persons with disabilities. However, it has never reached that target.
Now, the government is launching job vacancies that are reserved entirely for people with disabilities, such as desk clerks, file managers or facilities officers, but each department is allowed to decide which vacancies it opens autonomously.
