Other government information and services: belgium.be
This conference, organised jointly by EMN Estonia and IOM Estonia, focuses on labour shortages in the EU. It will offer insights into sustainable strategies to balance local labour demands while remaining competitive and attractive to migrant workers.
This ad hoc query maps the schemes in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to issue residence permits for so-called “digital nomads”, or persons who work remotely for an employer registered outside of their country of residence. Emphasis is placed on the issue of the use of forged documents in the applications for such permits.
This ad hoc query examines national regulations and practices concerning the employment of third-country nationals during short stays or visa-free stays, as well as the procedures in place to issue long-stay D-visas for the purpose of employment.
The Federal Institute for Human Rights launched an investigation into "the growing tendency of Belgian authorities not to implement court decisions that condemn them", inter alia regarding the reception of applicants for international protection. The report following the investigation will be sent to the Chamber of Representatives.
Fedasil announced that the Belgian reception network has now a higher capacity than that recorded during the asylum crisis of 2015-2016. However, this capacity is insufficient to accommodate all applicants for international protection who are entitled to reception. At present, 2.650 single men are still on the waiting list for a reception place.
Fedasil announced that it can temporarily make use of centres in Bredene (Flanders) and in Theux (Wallonia) to accommodate applicants for international protection until March 2025. Both sites have already been used by Fedasil in the past, each time for a period of a few months.
This country report for Belgium prepared in the frame of the POSTING.STAT 2.0 project, examines the characteristics, the scale, and the impact of intra-EU posting from and to Belgium as well as the characteristics and the scale of infringements which are related to it.
This inform provides insights into the governance and processes of accommodation for applicants for international protection in EMN Member and Observer Countries. This governance of accommodation is crucial for responding to challenges, such as fluctuating asylum applications, limited housing capacity, and community relations.
EMN Italy organises a national conference laying focus on attracting international talent and skilled labor and on fostering co-development between Member States and third countries. Through an exchange of experiences and best practices, the legal framework and challenges in this matter will be discussed.
Fedasil has a budget for financing specific projects relating to the reception of asylum seekers (and other reception beneficiaries). The Agency has launched its call for projects for the year 2025. In 2025, the focus will be on projects that focus on support, activation, and housing.
This ad hoc query examines whether the legislation of the responding EMN Member Countries allows employment agencies to hire third-country nationals on behalf of their clients. Where this is allowed, the query further investigates the legal framework that enables it, as well as how these agencies are monitored and what restrictions are in place to prevent potential misuse.
This ad hoc query examines whether the EMN Member Countries implement a labour market test to regulate the employment of third-country nationals. Where a labour market test is implemented, details are provided on the procedure, the exemptions, the criteria for a negative decision, and the possible challenges.
This ad hoc query collects information on national regulations and practices regarding third-country national posted workers, with a focus on additional conditions for the hiring of posted workers (e.g. need to submit a motivated notification to extend the period of employment, sector-specific requirements etc.) and measures to facilitate recruitment in specific sectors or occupations.
In their jobs, front-line workers sometimes have to deal with the trauma of applicants for international protection and are confronted with conflicts, tensions and sometimes personal safety risks. Hence, they are exposed to a high risk of personal stress levels and burnout, moral injury, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges. This conference aims to bring together stakeholders at national and EU level to share experiences, challenges and practical solutions in this field.
Myria has published the fourth thematic section of its 2024 annual report. In this section, entitled « Economic migration, free movement and students » Myria notes that more third-country nationals were posted to Belgium in 2023 than in 2022. Posted workers from third countries are more vulnerable to exploitation than EU-based posted workers. Therefore, they urgently need increased legal protection, according to Myria.
After nearly two years of closure, Fedasil’s Info Point reopened on 27 September 2023, at its new location in rue Héger-Bordet, 3. The Info Point offers information and counseling for applicants for international protection living outside the reception network, but also migrants in transit and persons without a residence permit.
In a statement from 19 September 2024, the Council of Europe notes that Belgium has taken steps to address the wider reception crisis (such as creating 3.500 additional reception places and accelerating the examination of certain asylum applications to free up existing reception places), but these measures are insufficient.
On 19 September 2024, EMN Belgium presented the findings of its national contribution to the upcoming EMN Study on the Illegal Employment of Third-Country Nationals (2017-2022), in a comparative perspective with the national contributions from EMN Austria and EMN Italy.
The Walloon administration announces that new regulations come into force on 1 September 2024 regarding salaried economic migration for foreign workers in Wallonia. The system remains largely unchanged in its principles, still falling within the broader framework of the Single Permit for work and residence authorization for foreign workers. However, a new decree of the Walloon Government organizes new features and modifications.
The Belgian Red Cross announced the opening of a new reception centre for applicants for international protection in Brussels. It will be able to accommodate up to 360 people.
In the 2024 Rule of Law Report, especially in the country chapter on the rule of law situation in Belgium, the European Commission recommends that Belgium takes measures to ensure compliance by public authorities with final rulings of national courts and the European Court of Human Rights, referring in particular to judgments finding the State responsible for not ensuring adequate reception of asylum seekers.
From 1 July 2024, adult asylum seekers who stay in a reception centre and who have a working income will have to contribute to this reception. Those who do not wish to contribute may consider staying outside the reception centre. They are free to leave the centre and find their own accommodation.
In order to structurally shorten the duration of reception in Belgium, an amendment was made to the Reception Act. Anyone who receives a final negative asylum decision must leave the reception place within a period of 30 days.
In its 2023 Annual Report, Fedasil reviews the key events of the year and provides an overview of the reception network for international protection applicants, the resettlement of refugees, and voluntary returns. The report also presents key statistics that offer valuable insights into these areas, helping to illustrate both the challenges faced and the progress made.
This ad hoc query looks at the possibility for third-country nationals to begin their employment while waiting for the issuance of their single permit, in order to circumvent lengthy processing times.
