In 2014, the National Employment Office (Onem) 3,926 unemployed people claiming unemployment benefit saw their benefit suspended because they were enjoying themselves in another country, wrote Sudpresse newspapers on Wednesday. One condition of receiving unemployment benefit is that you have to be living in Belgium and be in a position to send out job applications and go for job interviews. A job seeker can only take a maximum of 24 days’ holiday abroad per year and spot checks are carried out regularly.
Onem has written to the job seekers concerned, inviting them go to their local job centre within seven days and present proof of residency. Onem will, of course accept certain reasons for being abroad, job hunting or attending training there, for example.
(Source: Belga)
