VDAB prepares for incoming unemployment reform
Flanders' public employment agency is preparing for the implementation of the first phase of the federal government’s plan to limit temporary unemployment benefits, set to begin on 1 January. VDAB announced on Saturday that it was taking steps to support affected job seekers, though the legislation has not yet passed through parliament.
“We are ready to assist job seekers with the capacity we have available,” said Wim Adriaens, VDAB managing director, in a press release. However, he said the agency was dependent on other actors for critical elements of the plan, particularly the federal policymakers and the National Employment Office (RVA).
Earlier this week, the government reached an agreement on the timing and target groups for the reform, which aims to limit the duration and scope of unemployment benefits. While the details still require parliamentary approval, the VDAB has decided not to wait before starting preparations.
To implement the changes effectively, the agency needs access to personal data from the RVA to determine which job seekers will be impacted. In response, Flemish Employment minister Zuhal Demir of N-VA and the VDAB have contacted the federal Employment minister David Clarinval of MR and the RVA’s management committee to arrange data sharing and coordination.
“We are in constant consultation and are also represented in the RVA management committee,” said VDAB spokesperson Joke Van Bommel. “We hope to be able to act quickly together once the legislation has been approved in parliament.”
“The longer it takes for us to receive data about who has been impacted and in what way, the more difficult it will be to be ready on time," Adriaens said.
Local social impact
As some job seekers may end up relying on the living wage, VDAB is also establishing agreements with local authorities to manage the expected social impact.
In addition to backend preparations, the agency is evaluating and strengthening its service delivery. Measures include enhanced support for employment mediators, increased access to Dutch language training, and more opportunities tailored to long-term unemployed people.
“We are looking to organise more local job fairs, provide more mediators on our service lines and expand Dutch training,” the agency said. These efforts are intended to supplement VDAB’s existing services.
While VDAB is pushing ahead, other regions are expressing concern about the timeline. At the end of April, the Brussels employment agency Actiris called for a six-month delay to introduce the next steps.
“We are doing everything we can to implement the measure,” the agency said at the time. “But to get our data exchange and our services up to par, we would have liked six months extra time.”
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