Socio-professional integration centres (CISP in French) denounced the "blackmail" exerted by Walloon Minister of Employment, Pierre-Yves Jeholet, who is threatening not to pay. June 30 is the payment date for the 2018 subsidies balance and 2019 2nd advance for the approval of a CISP: slightly less than 30 million euros.
"While the spotlight focusses on the next Walloon government, Jeholet has become the CISP sector’s executioner. An almighty Minister’s final act of revenge, undercover as a huge defender of public funds," the socio-professional insertion centres’ Inter-federation denounced in a statement.
"Worse, the Minister threatens centres that were re-approved in due form in 2017, menacing to initiate the procedure of suspension or withdrawal of CISP authorization if they have not signed the cooperation agreement with the Forem," she continued.
The cooperation agreement provides the terms of collaboration between insertion operators and the Forem. But, following a negative assessment of both the operating partners and the Forem, the contract was to be reviewed thoroughly, the Inter-federation explained, claiming to have sent several proposals to this effect.
"Ignoring the ongoing consultation and the comments made by the operators, the minister nevertheless sent an obligation to sign an unsatisfactory text, not validated by all, by 30 April 2019," the federation added, regretting that the Minister likens "the current business to a 'license to kill’."
"Since taking office in mid-2017, the Minister of Employment and Training has been denounced by the sector for his policies and his desire to challenge our centres’ action for the unemployed who are low-skilled and far removed from the labour market, "she added. "This heavy blow is a new threat to the future of low-skilled job seekers and the employment of hundreds in this category," the Inter-federation concluded.
The Brussels Times
