To combat a shortage of skilled labourers in sectors such as education, personal care, and technical professions, Belgium’s Government of the German-speaking Community will introduce a bonus system for students who choose to work in these sectors.
Coming into effect from September 2023, the financial aid will benefit apprentices, students, and pupils in vocational seventh-grade secondary education.
During their studies or training, German-speaking students will receive a monthly amount of €350, Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-speaking Community of Belgium and Lydia Klinkenberg, German-speaking Minister for Education and Training, said on Wednesday.
These contributions will be non-refundable, provided that the beneficiaries commit to working within the German-speaking region, at least part-time, for five years over a period of ten years.
With the creation of this system of scholarships, the government hopes to encourage students to engage in work-study training, technical-vocational training, or studies which will prepare them for work in a profession experiencing labour shortages.
“The socio-economic background and place of residence of the applicant are not determining factors and play no role in obtaining one of these scholarships. The system is open to all EU citizens studying in the German-speaking Community,” Klinkenberg explained.
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The decree allowing for the application of this system is set to be approved by the German-speaking Parliament next June, before coming into force in September.
