Declaration of Intent signed between the State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration and the Walloon Minister for employment
The State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration Theo Francken and the Walloon Minister for Employment have signed on 29 August a collaboration agreement intended to foster the socio-professional insertion of asylum seekers.
The agreement signed by the two ministers aims at strengthening the presence of the FOREM (Walloon agency for employment and training) in the reception centers of Fedasil (Belgian federal agency for the reception of asylum seekers) in Wallonia. Information sessions targeted at asylum seekers in particular will be held. The FOREM will also provide the asylum seekers with its expertise in the field of employment.
Asylum seekers can start working in Belgium 4 months after having applied for asylum. The objective is therefore to provide asylum seekers in reception centers with information about the Belgian labour market and with the FOREM's services. Fedasil will embed the FOREM's offer upon arrival of the asylum seekers. An early identification of skills should allow a swifter access to the labour market.
Similar agreement has already been signed one year ago with the Flemish agency for employment (VDAB) and State Secretary Theo Francken intends to conclude a similar one in Brussels.
Source: RTBF, Région wallonne et Fédéral main dans la main pour mettre les demandeurs d'asile à l'emploi