Four in five sanctions for Brussels jobseekers have no financial consequences

In Brussels, jobseekers who are sanctioned by Actiris face no financial consequences in most cases. Last year, only 19.2% of all sanctions resulted in an actual measure, such as a reduction or suspension of benefits, or exclusion from benefits altogether. In more than eight out of ten cases, the sanction amounted to no more than a warning, according to figures obtained by Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten.

According to Verstraeten, the credibility of Brussels’ activation policy is at stake. “Anyone who declares themselves available for work must also make genuine efforts to find a job. Sanctions are not an end in themselves, but without a credible enforcement mechanism, activation policy loses its effectiveness.”

More checks, fewer sanctions

In 2025, Actiris carried out a total of 14,918 availability checks, 4.5% more than two years earlier. Yet the total number of sanctions fell by 20% between 2023 and 2025. The number of sanctions with actual consequences did increase by 35%, from 370 to 500.

“That is a step in the right direction, but the figures also show that Brussels remains extremely reluctant to impose sanctions with real consequences. Four out of five sanctions are still limited to a warning, whereas in Flanders almost every sanction leads to an actual penalty.”

In Flanders, 98.3% of sanctioned jobseekers received a sanction with real consequences — a striking difference.

Responsibility, not punishment

According to Verstraeten, the aim is not to punish people, but to hold them accountable. “Anyone who registers as a jobseeker must actively look for work, regardless of the situation on the labour market. A sanction is never an end in itself, but it is an essential part of a sound activation policy.”

The Brussels Government plans to reform the guidance and monitoring system, including by abolishing the assessment panel made up of three independent evaluators, thereby simplifying the monitoring procedure. This reform already applies to young jobseekers.

Verstraeten wants the government to extend this simplification to all jobseekers as soon as possible. “The N-VA has been calling for a simpler and faster monitoring system for years. The government must now roll out this reform to all jobseekers without delay. Efficient monitoring not only provides greater clarity, but also makes activation policy more credible.”