A petition urging the preservation of conversion cells has surpassed 1,000 signatures, warranting an official hearing in the Walloon Parliament, according to a statement released on Sunday by the petition’s initiators, the Walloon branch of the FGTB and the CSC.
The two unions oppose the proposed reform of conversion cells, which play a crucial role in reintegrating dismissed workers into the workforce. They receive support from the opposition, including Ecolo, PS, and PTB, against the MR-Engagés government’s project.
The petition was submitted on 21 May and has gathered 1,181 signatures, emphasising the importance of conversion cells as an “essential, effective, and human tool” that must be preserved, the organisations assert.
Their statement highlights the success of these cells, citing a 67.3% average re-employment rate over the past decade, the majority on permanent contracts. This figure rises to 87.2% when training opportunities are considered.
The unions clarify they are not opposed to the evolution of the system but reject its dismantling. They stress that the regional policy declaration does not mention the abolition of conversion cells. They claim that the government plans to transfer the support of laid-off workers to private operators, even though public conversion cells provide “human, local, and solidarity-based support” recognised by all field actors.
According to the Walloon Parliament’s website, the constitutional right to petition allows citizens to “make their voices heard by drawing public authorities’ attention to their concerns.” When a petition reaches one thousand signatures, its authors are entitled to a hearing by the relevant parliamentary committee.
