“Let illegals work!” say small businesses

29 November 2007

BRUSSELS – Unizo, the Flemish Small Businesses Association, has called for workers from across the EU to be given access to the Belgian labour market. The association says that this is necessary because of the shortage of workers on the labour market.

The number of job vacancies in Flanders is twice the number of job seekers. Unizo says that it’s above all small businesses that are hit by the growing shortage of workers on the labour market.

The organisation also favours giving illegals who have integrated into Belgian society the right to work legally here.

Unizo calls for greater cooperation between Belgium’s regions so that the Brussels and Walloon employment agencies receive information about Flemish vacancies.

The association wants the Flemish employment agency to give greater assistance to small businesses looking for workers.

Unizo warns against expanding existing career break schemes.

It also calls for higher benefits at the start of a period of unemployment, but no unemployment benefit payments after 3 years and 2 months.

In such cases claimants would receive minimum subsistence benefit.

[Copyright Flanders news 2007]

Subject: Belgian news