The study commissioned by the Elsene municipal council reveals significant challenges posed by the influx of excluded unemployed individuals to the OCMW. The findings indicate potential additional costs ranging from 2.8 to over 8 million euros by 2027.
Projected Financial Impact
The analysis outlines three scenarios regarding the influx of excluded unemployed individuals. The estimated additional costs for 2026 range from 2.8 million to 5.5 million euros, while for 2027, costs could exceed 8 million euros.
To address the rising demand for living wages, the OCMW has developed an action plan. This plan includes hiring more social workers, opening new offices, deploying additional stewards for order maintenance, and investing in IT equipment and communication tools.
Broader Implications of the Measure
The impact of this measure extends beyond the OCMW services handling living wage applications. It also affects staff responsible for assessing individual integration into the workforce. The municipality’s employment service may face increased workloads as a result.
“This reform will have direct consequences for hundreds of people and for our social services,” says Mayor Romain de Reusme (PS).
In the coming months, the municipality will need to strategize its budget to accommodate necessary investments for the following year. The OCMW emphasizes that this measure comes on top of multiple crises faced in recent years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and the energy crisis.
The Elsene municipal council requested this study in April through a motion, with results presented earlier this week. The City of Brussels has also sought a study to evaluate the impact of the federal measure.
