Apply on-line for the Flemish recruitment incentive for long-term job seekers

A first "light" version of the on-line application is available. Employers who have recruited a long-term job seeker since 1 January 2017 can henceforth apply for their incentive on-line.

The application for the incentive has to be made electronically, individually per worker concerned and only via the website of the department of Employment and Social Economy Department. Since 19 April 2017, the first version of that on-line application is available.

Start-up phase

In the start-up phase, which runs from 19 April to 30 June 2017, this is a light version:

The application is registered but the data is not automatically exchanged with other databases yet. Therefore, in the on-line work flow:

• a declaration of honour will be requested for certain data, e.g. the fact that the person concerned has been a job seeker for two years, the number of hours per week, the fact that this incentive is not combined with certain other subsidies…
• an upload of certain documents is requested, for example a copy of the employment contract

Go to www.werk.be, ‘online diensten’ (on-line services), ‘Aanwervingsincentive voor langdurig werkzoekenden’ (Recruitment incentive for long-term job-seekers) (http://www.werk.be/awi).

Final check with approval/rejection of applications during the start-up phase will take place not earlier than in July, and payment not earlier than in September - Read more.

Further planning

The Flemish government is further developing a fully operational on-line application, and provides for two successive phases:

• A downstream phase in July/August 2017
  The exchange of data with other databases will largely but not yet be fully completed, this means that the employer will still have to fill in a limited number of data. Nevertheless, the level of exchange will allow for an approval or rejection of new applications within a month. As from July, the dossiers submitted in April - May - June will be checked as well, with notice of approval or rejection. Incentives of approved applications will not yet be paid in this phase.
• A final phase from September 2017
  The exchange of data with other databases will be fully operational, and the application procedure will be fully interactive. All applications will be approved or rejected within a month. From September, the incentives of approved applications (also those of the start-up and downstream phase) will be paid and the payment will be followed on-line.

Application deadline

The application deadline for the incentive is:

• for recruitments in January and February 2017: not later than 31 May 2017;
• for recruitments from 1 March 2017: not later than three months after the recruitment date

The competent minister may extend the application deadline in the start-up and/or downstream phase. It is generally expected that this will be done. We will keep you duly informed.

Prior registration

In the beginning of March, the Employment and Social Economy Department has launched a web page containing information on the application procedure and a web form, allowing the employer to register his details. Employers who have completed the web form receive a personalised message of the Employment and Social Economy Department containing information on the application procedure by 19 April at the earliest.

Please note that the registration will not serve as an application. Registered employers will have to go through the application procedure for every worker concerned at the earliest from 19 April.

Also refer to our Infoflashes of 14 February and 2 March 2017.

Author: Els Poelman

27/04/2017