Asylum seekers in Belgium who do paid work now have to contribute to their accomodation costs if they still occupy spaces in reception centres, according to the office of the Secretary of State for Asylum, Nicole de Moor.
This requirement, which took effect on 1 July, was laid down in a royal decree in 2011, but faced political and legal hurdles that have now been resolved.
The amount to be contributed is based on an individual’s income. For instance, an asylum seeker earning €900 net per month would pay €222.25. For those earning more than €1,500 per month, the contribution amounts to 50% of the salary.
About 10,000 asylum seekers in Belgium have jobs of varying lengths. They must disclose their earnings to the reception centre or face larger contributions. If they refuse to pay, the centre may limit the services they receive or evict the individuals concerned.
Asylum is granted to persons fearing persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions, and are without protection in their home countries.
