The European Commission on Monday proposed €2.7 million in aid to support 365 workers in Belgium laid off by the Match-Smatch chain. The funds would come from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).
In June 2024, Belgium requested EGF funding to help the dismissed Walloon workers find new employment. Many of the redundancies involve low-skilled workers aged 50 or over.
The EGF will help fund counselling services, job search assistance, and vocational, digital, and language training. Additionally, laid-off workers can receive advice on starting their own businesses and may qualify for start-up grants of up to €15,000.
The support package also includes incentives for companies that hire former Match-Smatch workers. Additional benefits are provided for workers engaged in job search, training, and educational activities, alongside support for self-employed workers in the early stages of their business ventures.
The total cost of these initiatives is estimated at €3.1 million, with 85% (€2.7 million) covered by the EGF and the remaining 15% (€469,688) by the Walloon Region. The Commission’s proposal must now be approved by the European Parliament and the Council.
Since 2007, the EGF has allocated €696 million in 180 cases, assisting over 169,000 people across 20 Member States.
