GGC Halts Unemployment Reform for 60 Days.. Major Impact on Belgian Job Market

GGC Pauses Unemployment Reform for 60 Days Impacting Jobs

The Brussels government seeks a six-month delay in the reform’s implementation to ensure proper funding and support for vulnerable local social services.

Marie Dupont6 June 2025Last Update : 13 hours ago

GGC start procedure: hervorming werkloosheid voor 60 dagen opgeschort

www.bruzz.be

The Brussels government is seeking to delay the implementation of the social reform affecting local public welfare centres (OCMWs) by six months. This move aims to allow more time for effective consultation on the reform’s impact, especially concerning the responsibilities transferred to Brussels’ social services. As of 2025-06-06 08:52:00, discussions continue amid growing concerns about the reform’s direct effects on the region’s OCMWs.

6 Key Takeaways

Verenigd College wil hervorming uitstellen zes maanden
GGC vreest financiële lasten voor Brusselse OCMW's
Federale regering plant bijna 2 miljard besparingen
Minister Clerfayt benadrukt ondersteuning en coördinatie
Hervorming treedt gefaseerd in werking vanaf 2026
Brussel telt circa 37.000 langdurig werklozen

Key issues include the lack of guarantees for shifting costs from the federal unemployment agency (RVA) to the OCMWs, and the absence of an automatic compensation mechanism to cover additional expenses. How will Brussels manage these financial pressures while supporting vulnerable jobseekers?

With nearly 37,000 long-term unemployed in Brussels, the reform’s staggered rollout starting January 2026 raises urgent questions about local capacity and funding. This leads US to the fast answer on what this means for Brussels’ social services.

Fast Answer: Brussels requests a six-month delay to the social reform to secure funding and coordination for OCMWs, aiming to prevent a 28% rise in local welfare costs and protect vulnerable jobseekers.

Why is Brussels pushing back on the reform timeline? The government stresses that:

The federal plan targets nearly €2 billion in savings without providing structural funding for local authorities.
OCMWs risk facing significantly increased financial burdens without clear compensation.
Effective support and coordination with regional actors are essential to help long-term unemployed residents.
The reform’s success depends on balancing employment goals with protecting social services and vulnerable groups.

This reform directly affects Brussels, where local welfare centres play a critical role in supporting thousands of long-term unemployed residents facing rising social challenges.

As negotiations continue, Brussels must secure clear commitments for funding and cooperation to ensure social services remain effective. Will the federal government respond to these concerns in time? Brussels’ approach highlights the importance of inclusive policymaking that safeguards both employment targets and social welfare.