VESOC Agreement 14 December 2020

The Flemish Government and the Flemish social partners have concluded a VESOC (Vlaams Economisch Sociaal Overlegcomité - Flemish Economic and Social Consultative Committee) Agreement on the recovery of the Flemish labour market. With the “Alle hens aan dek” (“All hands on deck”) plan, an extra EUR 190 million is being earmarked for a powerful, sustainable recovery and transformation of the Flemish labour market. This new ambitious agreement focuses on three priorities:

1. A training and career development offensive
2. The digital transformation of Flanders
3. A strategy targeting sustainable employment for everyone

These 3 priorities have been further elaborated in the Agreement's 20 spearheads. In this Infoflash, we will discuss several spearheads which have an impact on businesses and entrepreneurs. You can consult the complete Agreement using the link below this Infoflash.

Spearhead 1: We are making the shift to lifelong learning via a strong transition from education to the labour market.

• We anticipate, as quickly as possible, the complete restart of workplace learning, traineeships, dual learning and individual vocational training, all of which were temporarily suspended.
• We support businesses in continuing to offer alternate workplaces via a one-time increase and expansion of the traineeship bonus in 2021.
• We aim to bring about an expansion of workplace learning and dual learning in other contexts. This allows us to further shape dual learning in higher education and in adult education.

Spearhead 2: We are further developing the (online) training offered and making the existing offerings more accessible, so that more people can find their ways to continuing training and retraining.

Spearhead 3: We are offering those who are temporarily unemployed an attractive range of options, so that they can maintain their competency levels.

Spearhead 4: Training and (learning) career counselling as the key to taking control of career development

• By way of an experiment, we are making a joint right of decision temporarily possible as part of the Flemish Training Leave (VOV) programme. This allows extra VOV hours and budget to be used to take training courses on the joint initiative of the employer and the employee.

Spearhead 5: We are accelerating the filling of job vacancies by stimulating various workplace learning formulas (and their publication).

• We maximise our efforts regarding workplace learning and encourage businesses to offer learning workplaces, providing the support required to make this happen safely and in a corona-proof manner.
• Various VDAB instruments related to workplace learning, such as temporary work experience, individual vocational training and neighbourhood work (wijk-werken) will be reviewed, and we will adjust these programmes as needed.

Spearhead 6: By way of the lifelong learning partnership, we are strengthening the synergy and cooperation between the labour market, training and education partners.

Spearhead 7: We are accelerating the introduction of e-learning in Flanders.

• We further adapt the Flemish Training Leave (VOV) rules to the realities of e-learning.

Spearhead 8: We are making an individual learning and career account and are integrating it step-by-step into a personalised, digital career platform.

Spearhead 9: We are making open job vacancies more accessible and are filling them more efficiently.

• The VDAB helps and supports businesses in making it possible to apply for jobs digitally.

Spearhead 10: We are digitising the VDAB partnership.

Spearhead 11: We are addressing the digital divide and paying special attention to e-inclusion and digital literacy.

Spearhead 12: We are utilising data (and scientific insights) as the raw material for strengthening and substantiating employment policy in an evidence-based manner.

Spearhead 13: We are shifting and reinforcing the capacity at the VDAB.

Spearhead 14: The labour market is more inclusive than ever.

• The VESOC commitment statement, “Iedereen aan boord” (“Everyone on board”) delineates four priority groups: youth who are not enrolled in any form of education or training programme and who are unemployed (NEET youth), people who receive an integration income, people who receive a benefit for illness or invalidity, and people who have temporarily left the labour market to assume care duties (people returning to the labour market, women with migration backgrounds).

Spearhead 15: A language plan to improve the activation of the newcomers

Spearhead 16: We provide an answer to collective dismissal and restructuring, and we facilitate transitions between jobs and between sectors.

• In the event of collective dismissals and restructuring, we focus our efforts on career orientation, continuing education and retraining via the work of the Social Intervention Fund (SIF - Sociaal interventiefonds), among others, and we do this as early as possible in the process. We offer more agile perspectives on reassignment, counselling and support. Training can be an essential part of outplacement assistance, but outplacement assistance must always remain individualised. Work must be done, for example, on the implementation of an activating dismissal law.
• We are also continuing to work on lateral entry to facilitate transitions between sectors. For example, in addition to a new intersectoral agreement for the social profit (VIA VI), we are also focussing on action to increase (lateral) entry into the care professions, thereby alleviating the shortage of qualified workers in that sector.

Spearhead 17: We are shaping the workfloor of the future with attention to digitisation and practicable (tele)work.

• We widely promote the expanded workability voucher (werkbaarheidscheque), so that more businesses, together with their partners, can work with it. From now on, these vouchers can provide an answer to the changed circumstances resulting from corona, and they can be used for campaigns in the form of advice, counselling and training.

Spearhead 18: Toward strong social entrepreneurship

Spearhead 19: Entrepreneurship after job loss or bankruptcy and for vulnerable groups

• We continue to work on making entrepreneurship an equally valuable option for activation. That is why we are temporarily expanding the transition to entrepreneurship bonus to include young people (<30 years of age) who are looking for work and job-seekers from disadvantaged groups.

Spearhead 20: We are reforming the policy on target groups into a simple and transparent system of RSZ (National Social Security Office) target group reductions.

• In order to use this even more effectively with the social partners, we are discussing a target group reduction in function of the distance from the labour market. And, the bonus for long-term job-seekers will also be included in this reform.

More information

Source:

• https://www.vlaanderen.be/nieuwsberichten/drie-prioriteiten-voor-relance-vlaamse-arbeidsmarkt
• https://www.serv.be/serv/persberichten/190-miljoen-relance-vlaamse-arbeidsmarkt