At least 100 jobs in the Dutch-speaking social sector in the Brussels-Capital Region are at risk due to the absence of a regional government, the ACV Puls trade union said in a press release.
It concerns jobs in 100 Dutch-speaking organisations, including CAW Brussels, D'Broej and Debateville. These companies and institutions in the Brussels social sector are subsidised by the region through a multi-year agreement with the Flemish Community Commission (VGC).
In recent weeks, however, several of these organisations have received a letter stating that their financing can no longer be guaranteed after 31 December 2025. The Board of the VGC is in a caretaker capacity and is therefore unable to make new policy choices.
For the time being, they have to wait for a new Brussels Government before new multi-year financing can be started. At CAW Brussels, for example, 11.5 full-time jobs are at stake.
No reserves
"The letter and the lack of a new government will certainly put 100 jobs at risk," said Nelis Jespers, trade union representative at ACV Puls. "A lot of the organisations involved are small and have little or no reserves."
Organisations therefore have no choice but to prepare for redundancies now. "In concrete terms, this means that people are being put on notice and temporary contracts are not being extended. Brussels cannot afford a blind reduction in employment in the current very precarious social situation," he added.
The trade union is urging the VGC college to provide a solution, for example by extending the existing financing by one year to guarantee security for the organisations and companies and their employees.
