Discussion Paper from Belgium on The "Rosetta Plan" - A ...

<strong>Discussion</strong> <strong>Paper</strong> From Host Country Government: <strong>Belgium</strong>
Moreover, employers who keep, under a written fixed-term open-ended employment contract, a skilled
young people at the end of the first job agreement are granted for this worker a 10% reduction of the
employers’social security contributions. This due reduction is given the whole year that follows the first
job agreement.
In order to stimulate the recruiting of young people at the end of the first job agreement, their occupation
within the framework of this agreement is considered as an unemployment period or a registration as
job seekers for the application of the measures for the work which require a period of unemployment or
a registration as job seekers. As a result, every young people can benefit <strong>from</strong> plans which require a
period of unemployment, such as the plan for the professional transition (which is normally applicable
after 1 year unemployment) or the Wep-plus in Flanders.
How many young people will work on the first job agreement?
For the public sector, the number of created works has been fixed. And so, the Federal state and its
public institutions will recruit 2000 new workers within the framework of this youth employment plan.
One third of these young people will be employed in the Federal institutions and more specifically for
welcoming and giving information to the citizens. An other third will be first and foremost recruited for
specific federal programs such as the embellishment of stations, the redevelopment and the upkeep of
parks, the selective collection of rubbish in the Federal administrations and public buildings, and so on.
One last third will be working on projects developed in the future by the Federal state in collaboration
with the Regions, the Communities and the local authorities in their fight against violence at school,
security on the way to school, the guidance of the elderly, young people and less valid, public
cleanliness, …
Communities and Regions are also forced to recruit; the total number of jobs which have to be created
by the federate institutions is estimated at 855. In Flanders, young people will be employed on one hand
in the Flemish administration and on the other hand, for special projects in education and within the
policy of big cities. The public jobs which have to be created in the Walloon region aim at improving the
living conditions in insisting on the help to disadvantaged and on day-care centre for children.
The Brussels-Capital Region employs young people for orientation and information jobs in the
administration to the citizens. Moreover, they will be recruited within the framework of three specific
plans: urban stewards, awareness of ecological issues and public cleanliness, such as social cohesion
in big buildings. In German-speaking community, young people will be educated to exercise activities
linked to the maintenance of infrastructures.
In addition to the jobs created by the public authorities, the success of the first job agreement will
depend on the possible dynamic of firms which are enthusiastic about the first job. In fact, it is really
possible that a firm recruits beyond its obligations and that SME’s, which do not have obligations
voluntarily recruit people. If the collective and individual obligation is respected by the private firms, the
creation of jobs is potentially estimated at 45,000 (in full-time equivalents).
June 2001 Peer Review " Rosetta Plan" - A Springboard For Young People Into Employment, <strong>Belgium</strong> 4