Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for case BE-2020-43/1324 – measures in Belgium
Country |
Belgium
, applies regionally
|
Time period | Open ended, started on 23 October 2020 |
Type | Other initiatives or policies |
Category |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
– Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Author | Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound |
Case created | 26 October 2020 (updated 19 November 2020) |
Even before the current crisis there were significant labour shortages in the care sector, with nurses being one of the main bottleneck professions. The first wave of the crisis put a lot of pressure on the existing care personnel. This alleviated after the peak of the first wave but still many care professionals complained about the lack of recuperation and the mental and physical stress suffered due to the first peak. The second nationwide peak is currently ongoing, with the additional issue that now a number of care professionals are falling out because of illness themselves, either due to the COVID-19 virus or work pressure. At the same time a large number of people are still unable to work and temporarily unemployed (for example in the events and entertainment sectors, with little prospect in the near future). This is why Flemish employment services are currently launching a initiative and accompanying platform in order to facilitate people on temporary unemployment to perform tasks in the care sector.
The measure is open to all people making use of the temporary unemployment scheme. The jobs that would be put up on the the platform (www.helpindezorg.be) would be specifically for jobs in the care sector that don't require any additional skills or training, for example logistics, animation, reception of patients, etc. The main goal is to provide an easy channel for hospitals and care facilities to publish vacancies on a centralised platform. The jobs that are posted there are clearly defined and of a temporary nature. If the regular job of the applicant restarts, the person in the temporary care function is able to switch back easily.
The measure is only announced and not finalised yet, it is too early to give information about usage.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Particular professions
Unemployed |
Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Local / regional government
Public employment service |
Regional funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
Unknown
Associations like Zorgnet Icuro which are active in the sector have discussed and promoted the measure on their website.
This case is sector-specific
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities | Q86 Human health activities |
Q87 Residential care activities |
This case is occupation-specific
Occupation (ISCO level 2) |
---|
Health associate professionals |
Personal care workers |
Health professionals |
Cleaners and helpers |
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Care jobs for temporary unemployed, case BE-2020-43/1324 (measures in Belgium), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.