Around 50 members of the Collective of Undocumented Workers protested in front of the office of Brussels Minister for Employment, Bernard Clerfayt (DéFI), on Tuesday.
The demonstrators demanded that Clerfayt permitted them to start working while awaiting their residence permit, in order to fill the many free vacancies in Brussels, reports Bruzz.
The demonstration followed the call of Brussels job placement service Actiris to use the full potential of the labour force by also allowing undocumented people to work.
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"Minister Clerfayt told us he cannot assess the situation for the entire Brussels Region. The employer's organisations now have to make their point and show that more workers are needed," said Modou Ndiaye from the Collective of Undocumented Workers, reports Sudinfo.
This means the demonstrators are not any closer to job opportunities, even though they often have the right skills for the job, according to Ndiaye. "Even after taking a course, we still cannot get a worker's permit because it is the federal government's jurisdiction. There is no solution yet, but we will keep fighting and knocking on doors until we get a clear answer," Ndiaye added.
Another demonstration has been planned on 8 October, in front of the offices of Federal Minister for Asylum and Migration, Maggie de Block (Open Vld).
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
