Increasing police interventions for aggression against job centre staff
Incidents of aggression against staff at VDAB, Flanders' public employment service, are increasing, prompting more police interventions than ever.
Between January and November 2024, police were called 34 times - nearly double the 18 interventions in 2022 and a sharp increase from the 21 in 2023. “This aggression is unacceptable,” said Flemish MP Ine Tombeur, presenting the figures in Parliament.
In response, the VDAB has been investing in safer infrastructure for its employees. New buildings will include secure entrances, plexiglass walls and simplified layouts to remove unnecessary objects from conversation rooms. The installation of extra doors as escape routes and using 500 emergency buttons already in place will account for further emergency measures to ensure a safer work environment.
Societal trend
The urgency of these changes is underscored by the dramatic rise in aggression. "The fact that we are now also seeing a 90 per cent increase in police interventions is worrying," said Tombeur. "Mapping these figures meticulously allows VDAB to address the problem more effectively. VDAB employees must be able to work in safe conditions; they deserve this respect."
"Every case of aggression is one too many"
Demir linked the rise in aggression to a broader societal trend. "This is not limited to VDAB employees. We see it with De Lijn bus drivers, healthcare workers, teachers and others," said Employment minister Zuhal Demir.
At the end of 2024, Demir announced additional measures to tackle the issue. Job seekers who act aggressively towards VDAB staff now risk losing their unemployment benefits. "With VDAB, I will examine what additional steps we can take, because every case of aggression is one too many. It cannot go unpunished," she said.
Tombeur suggested extending these measures to include local authorities, particularly regarding living wage payments.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO BELGIAN FREELANCE
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