Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo has written to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to call for the regularisation of undocumented immigrants capable of working in jobs in short supply, reports L’Echo on Wednesday, which was able to consult the letter dated last July.
According to demographic projections, in 15 years' time Wallonia will have to run its economy with 50,000 fewer active workers than today. This is potentially a major problem on the horizon for businesses in the south of the country.
Employers and trade unions have called on the Walloon government to take action: not only must jobseekers must be activated, but undocumented migrants and refugees must also be provided with easier access to the job market.
Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo and Walloon Employment Minister Christie Morreale have therefore sent a letter to the Prime Minister. In the letter, Wallonia asks the Federal Government to relax the rules on residence permits for people with skills that are currently unavailable on the labour market.
