The city of Antwerp has initiated a procurement process to enable the provision of additional medical expertise for individuals declared unfit for work, the office of Social Affairs Councillor Nathalie van Baren (N-VA) announced on Friday.
Currently, individuals activated in the labour market through the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) sometimes find themselves unfit to work. According to the Gazet van Antwerpen, one out of ten welfare recipients in Antwerp has their job-seeking process halted for medical reasons, supported by a certificate of unfitness to work.
The OCMW occasionally questions the validity of these certificates, noting some are indefinite and offer no long-term prospects. Local politicians argue that having a back problem, for example, should not eliminate the possibility of performing any job.
Additional medical expertise is seen as a potential solution, with Councillor van Baren stating that this expertise should focus on effective activation. This can include customised pathways tailored to the individual’s needs. The new approach could be implemented in a few months.
