Search form

menu menu
  • Daily & Weekly newsletters
  • Buy & download The Bulletin
  • Comment on our articles

Federal parliament debates proposed benefit reforms

09:59 05/02/2015

As the federal government works to boost employment figures, member of parliament Zuhal Demir (pictured) has defended N-VA’s proposal to cut people off unemployment benefits after a certain period. “We have to introduce more reforms to ensure that more people seek work,” she said. “Once they see that they can no longer pay the bills, they will try harder to find a job.”

But CD&V, which forms part of the coalition government, immediately rejected the plan, arguing that it had not been agreed during the talks to form a federal government. “If we want to avoid social discord, we have to stick to the agreement we reached with the social partners,” said Stefaan Vercamer.

Opposition parties also criticised Demir’s proposed benefit cut. “Impoverishing a person is the worst thing you can do to help them get a job,” said Evita Willaert of Groen, while Meryame Kitir of the socialists said that the policy was “heartless”.

The federal government has pledged to raise the employment level to 73.2% of the working population by 2019. It needs to create 440,000 new jobs over the coming four-year period, but a recent survey by the National Bank revealed that the government’s current policies would only create 60,000 new jobs, while a report by the Federal planning office put the figure of new jobs at just 16,300.

 

photo by Luma/Het Nieuwsblad

Written by Derek Blyth

Comments

salsadancer

Lots of changes needed: Get rid of allocation familiale except for those earning a very very low wage would be a good start. This "freebie" should also stop at 18 when a young person can look for a job. The "freebie" should not extend to when one is 26 years old and still in school -- this is ridiculous! Belgium needs to make it easier for companies to hire and fire so companies would be more willing to engage more people.

Feb 6, 2015 00:08