Brussels Employment Service hopes to help undocumented migrants find work
The plan has come under fire from some politicians. The Minister responsible for Asylum and Migration in Belgium’s caretaker federal government Maggie De Block (Flemish liberal) and her predecessor Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist) have both raised objections. Ms De Block said the plan would effectively lead to a “collective regularisation” of illegal immigrants. Meawhile, Mr Francken says that the new Brussels government is using the plan to enforce “a mass regularisation by the back door”
Actiris is considering how it can integrate people that are here illegally into the labour force. This could include offering them training that would lead to them finding work.
Actiris’ Spokesman Jan Gatz told VRT News that “I stress that this still very much in an exploratory phase. However, we are looking into it at the request of our Board. Our Board is made up of representatives of employers and employees both parties are asking us to look into to the feasibility of everything. So that is what we are doing.
“A lot of vacancies in Brussels don’t get filled. Undocumented people could possible fill vacancies in professions where it is difficult to find staff”.
The plan has come under fire from some politicians. The Minister responsible for Asylum and Migration in Belgium’s caretaker federal government Maggie De Block (Flemish liberal) and her predecessor Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist) have both raised objections. Ms De Block said the plan would effectively lead to a “collective regularisation” of illegal immigrants. Meawhile, Mr Francken says that the new Brussels government is using the plan to enforce “a mass regularisation by the back door”
Mr Gatz refuses to react to the politicians’ concerns. “The whole idea is still in an exploratory phase. It is now still too early. Moreover, it will be up to the next Brussels Employment Minister to give his or her view.