The difference with service vouchers?
There, these are people hired by employment contracts for household tasks, only in private homes. Since service vouchers have existed, household chores have been eliminated via the ALE.
We met moved workers, who felt grateful to the FTA?
This allows people to get back on track, sometimes people who are very far from employment. It’s simply getting back into work habits, getting up in the morning, sticking to a schedule. And then feel useful. In addition to the aspect of professional reintegration, this feeling of inclusion, of being of service. We have a lot of elderly people who call on us. Going to help a little lady makes you feel useful.
However, we have the impression that the system is reaching its limits?
Effectively. It has existed for 30 years and has seen very little reform. The system is no longer really attractive: the worker only receives 4.10 euros per hour in addition to his unemployment benefit.
So difficult to find candidates?
This is the big difficulty! The system is a little outdated in terms of the amount of remuneration. There is a lack of recognition of ALE activities vis-à-vis Forem services. It’s changing, but it’s slow. ALE activities are not recognized in the job seeker’s reintegration pathway. The ALEs become a partner of Forem. We are expecting a lot of positive changes.
What is surprising is that there are almost no young people as workers?
It’s true, we have quite a few older workers, who will probably end their careers with us. The youngest are more followed by Forem. The goal is to push people towards training and employment. With age, some people have great difficulty finding work and the ALE helps maintain this feeling of inclusion.
If you were Minister of Employment, what action would you take?
(Editor’s note: Silence) I would try to start from a blank page. We’re tinkering. I think we should create more synergies with partners, there are so many things done in duplicate or triple. We are compartmentalized. The current system must be modified, we hope that the reform will be positive. recognize ALE in the socio-professional career so that people can test themselves in a sector. We need an expansion of users.
