Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Aalst’s OCMW, led by Alderman Katrien Beulens, hires 3 staff to help 1,000+ residents affected by January 2026 unemployment cuts, launching a pilot project with 4 companies in logistics and industry.
As VRT News reported, the city of Aalst is preparing to support residents affected by new federal rules on unemployment benefits. Starting in January 2026, the government will limit unemployment payments. The first group of people has already started to feel the effects this week.
Authorities estimate that more than 1,000 residents in Aalst will be affected. Around a third of them are expected to turn to the Public Social Welfare Centre, known as the OCMW, for help. To meet the growing demand, the OCMW has hired 3 extra staff members. They will assist residents with applications and guide them through the process to ensure they get the support they need.
“We expect the peak in March, April, and July. We’re monitoring whether additional staff will be needed,”
says Alderman for Social Affairs Katrien Beulens (N-VA).
What will Aalst’s pilot with 4 companies mean for job seekers?
At the same time, Aalst is launching a pilot project with 4 local companies to help people on social assistance find jobs more quickly. The program will guide residents to apply for positions in a clear and organised way. Officials mentioned that the project not only offers immediate work opportunities but also helps residents improve their chances for long-term employment.
“The companies will organise weekly job application afternoons, each in turn,”
says Beulens.
“We’ll send people to them between certain hours and then receive feedback on how the application went and where there are still obstacles.”
Local companies say it is becoming harder to find staff. Aalst’s new pilot project wants to help by connecting people on social assistance with 4 local companies. This could happen either on a trial basis or under Article 60 status, which allows special employment for people receiving social assistance.
“The Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) is a social safety net, and for some people, work isn’t an option; we’re not going to force them. People who are fit for work do have to demonstrate their willingness to work,”
says Beulens.
People receiving benefits are not forced to apply for jobs. If someone refuses repeatedly, suspension of benefits is possible. Authorities say this will always be handled carefully and in consultation. Residents will not be sent into jobs that do not suit them.
For example, someone interested in factory work is expected to apply for those roles. Finding work is not always easy. Many people face barriers such as language difficulties. Challenges often continue even after a person starts a job.
“It’s important that employers realise that these profiles often require additional support in the workplace and that they are willing to provide it,”
says Beulens.
“This support is part of the pilot project. Overcoming difficulties requires efforts from both sides, and what’s special here is that companies are now partially taking on that responsibility.”
The 4 companies in the project mainly operate in logistics and industry.
“In the healthcare sector, we’ve already been able to employ quite a few people receiving social assistance through Article 60 placements, but I hope to also include the retail and hospitality sectors in the pilot project in the future,”
Beulens adds.
Belgium has seen major reforms to unemployment benefits before. In 2012, the government introduced the Work Activation Plan under Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. The plan limited benefits for younger workers to between 12 and 24 months, depending on age and work history.
It also required job seekers to actively look for work or join training programs. Failure to do so could reduce or suspend benefits. Earlier, in 1996, a reform under Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene tightened rules for long-term unemployed people and linked benefits to an active job search.
