VDAB prepares for incoming unemployment reform
The Flemish Employment Agency (VDAB) 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. The agency announced on Saturday that it is already taking steps to support affected job seekers, even 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, managing director of VDAB, in a press release. However, he noted that the agency is dependent on other actors for critical elements of the plan, particularly the federal policymakers and the National Employment Office (RVA).
Data access and coordination challenges
Earlier this week, the federal 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 modalities 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, the Flemish minister for employment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) and the VDAB have reached out to the federal employment minister David Clarinval (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 (leefloon), 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 for long-term unemployed individuals.
“We are looking to organise more local job fairs, provide more mediators on our service lines, and expand Dutch training,” the agency stated. These efforts are intended to supplement VDAB’s existing services.
Regional discrepancies
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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