Brussels releases 200,000 euros budget to promote multilingualism projects in companies

The Brussels Capital Region, the Brussels Government and Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry (Beci) launched this April 25 a project to promote multilingualism in the workplace. 

"Betalky.brussels 2022-2023" aims to address companies, enterprises and independent professionals. In total, a budget of 200,000 euros has been set aside for the project. Organizations can submit applications up to 30,000 euros.

"We want to encourage the Brussels business community to invest in multilingualism. Language enables valuable connections and stimulates contact. Language knowledge enriches people and piques their interest. A multilingual company encourages greater cultural involvement and wider tolerance, also in the workplace. Let’s hope that we receive many creative project proposals," said Brussels Minister of Finance, Budget, Civil Service and Multilingualism, Sven Gatz.

This new project results from Gatz's 2019 policy note "Promotion of Multilingualism" which received broad support in the Brussels Parliament. 

The impact of multilingualism

Research shows that the combination of Dutch, French and English is frequently used in the Brussels business world.

According to a study by the European Commission, 11% of 2000 companies declared that they had lost at least one contract in the past, because of a lack of language skills. Half of these companies declared that they would need to up their language skills in the coming years.

Bernard Clerfayt, Brussels Minister for Employment and Vocational Training, said that investing in the development of the skills of Brussels job seekers was a priority for the Government. "For employees of the administrations, I have just made Brulingua, the online language learning platform of Actiris, accessible to all employees," he added.

"For the diversity policy that Beci has been promoting for years, we like to use the slogan 'Diversity means Performance'," said Beci's Secretary General Jan De Brabanter. "This applies equally to a multilingualism policy. And let's be ambitious: it doesn't stop with a sufficient knowledge of French and Dutch,” he admitted.

Companies and professionals can submit their language management projects until June 30 at betalky.brussels.

(VIV)

© BELGA PHOTO(BENOIT DOPPAGNE) Brussels region Minister for Finance and Promotion of Multilingualism Sven Gatz on 15 November 2021