Demir calls for stricter limits non-EU on work permits
Flemish minister of employment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has called for stricter limits on work permits for non-EU migrants in Flanders, aiming to prioritise local and national labour solutions. According to De Tijd, Demir voiced concerns about the growing number of permits.
In 2023, work permits reached a record 15,800 and 15,700 by mid-October this year, marking a sharp increase compared to the 2019–2022 average of 11,000 permits annually.
Demir believes the current numbers are “too high” and “not defensible,” explaining, “It is understandable that [permits] are used for seasonal workers or very specific profiles that you do not find here. But for other vacancies, we must first get our own job seekers and non-professionals to work. Secondly, we must see how we can use Walloons and Brussels residents. Labour migration from outside the EU must be the final step, and preferably only for highly educated people.”
In order to reduce the number of permits, Demir proposes revising the list of qualifying professions, focusing on retraining Flemish job seekers to fill available roles. A labour market study will determine which functions could be removed from the eligibility list. Additionally, the government plans to tighten oversight of permit use, with 30 new inspectors set to be hired and procedures streamlined to improve efficiency.
However, not everyone agrees with Demir's approach. Hans Maertens, CEO of the business federation Voka, has called for more flexibility in addressing the region’s labour shortages. “Our labour market alone is too tight to meet the demand,” he argued. “We need to activate everyone in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia and focus on labour migration. Flanders is already so strict about admitting international talent.”
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minister of employment Zuhal Demir pictured during a plenary session of the Flemish Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday 13 November 2024. © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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