The new regional government in Flanders is overhauling its system of mandatory community service for jobseekers, which will now kick in after one year rather than two, and pay jobseekers more.
Formed in the early hours of Saturday morning after final negotiations which lasted around 16 hours, the new regional coalition of N-VA, Vooruit and CD&V has hit the ground running with its move regarding the mandatory community service programme.
Introduced in 2021 by Open VLD, the existing programme required people who were unemployed for more than two years to perform general interest tasks in Flanders. Job seekers were asked to work up to two days a week for at least six months.
However, the system was not successful, with fewer than 500 people currently participating, according to the outgoing regional Minister for Employment, Jo Brouns (CD&V).
The new tripartite Flemish government has decided to revise the programme. The new initiative, called “samenlevingsjobs” (“jobs for society”), will focus on those who are unemployed for more than one year, and general interest tasks will be for local authorities, local associations, and schools.
Tasks may include administrative work, event support, maintenance of green spaces, and transporting individuals.
Long-term unemployed people who comply with the programme will receive an additional remuneration of €4.5 per hour, on top of their benefits. The previous mandatory community service offered a compensation of €1.3 euros per hour.
According to the agreement, the new programme is seen as a step towards regular employment. Job seekers who refuse appropriate offers for two years will face sanctions from VDAB, the Flemish employment office.
The new system will last for a maximum of two years. Those who do not find employment within this period will be directed towards the social economy sector (such as cooperatives, associations, foundations or social enterprises that are not strictly run with the sole aim of profit).
