Axel Ronse: “We need to help people move forward, not keep them dependent”

Belgium tops the European ranking when it comes to households without work. As many as 11.3% of families are virtually jobless, compared to a European average of 7.9%. In the current affairs program Terzake, N-VA parliamentary group leader Axel Ronse analyzed the figures: “In Flanders, we’re top of the class: very few families here have no one working. In Wallonia, that number rises to 15%, and in Brussels nearly one in five households has no working member at all.”

Structural differences: Flanders versus Wallonia

Axel Ronse highlights the stark contrasts between the regions: “For every 100 euros a Flemish OCMW (public welfare center) receives, 70 euros go to job training for people on social assistance. In Wallonia, it’s barely 24 euros. The rest gets spent on things like tickets for tropical swimming pools or the cinema.”

He also gives a concrete example from his hometown, Kortrijk: “We pass on 117,000 job vacancies to Le Forem, the Walloon counterpart of VDAB The Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding (VDAB, Flemish Public Employment and Professional Training Service) is a Flemish public service that coordinates supply and demand in the employment market, with its main task consisting of serving as an intermediary for job seekers and providing them with support in getting back to work. Since the State reform in 1989, job placement has been a competence of the Regions and job training a competence of the Communities. The VDAB’s counterpart in Wallonia is Forem, and Actiris in Brussels. VDAB . The response? Just 51 applicants from Wallonia.”

Limiting unemployment benefits

For Axel Ronse, it’s obvious that unemployment benefits should be time-limited: “The success will largely depend on Maxime Prévot and Georges-Louis Bouchez. What will happen in Brussels and Wallonia? Will they finally manage to get that tanker moving? Because there, unemployment is massive — the result of decades of PS and PTB policies.”

“When people know benefits only last for two years, they’re much more motivated to join a pathway back to work. And for those who still don’t find a job, there’s social assistance — but only after a means test. That way, support goes solely to those who truly need it.”

For him, this is not about tearing down the system but about saving it: “We want to safeguard our Social security Social security is currently managed at the Federal level in Belgium. The most important pillars of Belgian social security are: sickness and invalidity insurance (NIDHI), pensions, unemployment insurance and child allowances. In addition, occupational illness, occupational accidents and annual holidays are dealt with at this level. Some Flemish parties have been campaigning for years for (large parts of) social security to be transferred to the Regions and Communities. social security so future generations can enjoy the same protection. The PTB, on the other hand, wants to keep people trapped in dependency. That’s not social policy — it’s keeping people locked up in poverty.”

Another key issue is the role of VDAB. Ronse believes the agency should work much more efficiently: “VDAB shouldn’t be a bloated government machine. It should be lean and focused on its core mission: monitoring and sanctioning.”

Tackling long-term illness

The explosive growth in the number of long-term sick — now costing over 11 billion euros annually — also requires, according to Axel Ronse, a fundamental rethink: “Up to now, the only question was: can this person still do their current job? We want to look more broadly: could they take on a different role, maybe with another employer? For that, we need to offer training and tailored reintegration programs.”

That, he argues, is the truly social approach: “This way, people regain a meaningful life, contribute to public finances, and help generate economic growth. The resources that frees up can go to those who genuinely need support. But the PTB wants to hand out money to everyone, ensuring that as many people as possible remain dependent on the state. We prefer to help people move forward,” Ronse concludes.