Far right argues for limits to newcomers’ access to social security
The far right Flemish Vlaams Belang party has unveiled its proposals on migration ahead of the elections. The party wants to limit family reunification opportunities and make access to social security much more difficult for newcomers. The far right that is doing well in the polls is currently ostracised by all other parties, who refuse to work together with it, but nobody knows what the result of next year’s federal, Flemish and local elections will be.
At its conference in Ghent the party came up with a hundred proposals for a different migration policy. In debates, Vlaams Belang politicians often argue for a migration stop. Rules on asylum and migration are largely laid down in international treaties and at European level. So a migration stop cannot easily be introduced. It is not in the party's actual proposals either, but Vlaams Belang wants to make national legislation on migration and integration as strict as possible. Its starting point is to do only the minimum required by international agreements.
Benefits for newcomers only after strict conditions
The far-right wants to make newcomers’ access to minimum subsistence benefit (called the “Living Wage” in Belgium), child allowance and unemployment benefit much more difficult. Specifically, only people who have resided legally in Belgium for at least eight years, have worked and contributed full-time for at least three years and know proper Dutch will be allowed to access our social security system if the Vlaams Belang gets its way.
"A clear message needs to be sent: we are not the land of milk and honey," party leader Van Grieken says. The question is to what extent the measures are also actually enforceable, as many social rights are anchored in the constitution and European legislation.
The party also wants to tighten the rules for people in the asylum procedure. Asylum seekers will no longer be able to get minimum subsistence benefit and will have to do compulsory community service. They will also be banned from training. Asylum seekers who work will have to give up part of their wages to finance their own reception.
Vlaams Belang also wants to introduce a guarantee system. The assets and resources of asylum seekers should be seized by the state for the duration of the asylum procedure. Amounts under 2,000 euros and possessions with a personal emotional value will be exempt from this. People who are ultimately not granted asylum will only get part of the deposit back. Reception costs incurred are withheld.
No labour migration either
Family reunifications should be kept to a minimum, the party believes. The family reunifier must work, have an income of at least 140 per cent of minimum subsistence benefit and be at least 21 years old, while the period in which recognised asylum seekers can bring over family members without conditions must be drastically shortened.
Vlaams Belang says there is no place for labour migration either. To address labour market shortages, many employers argue for looser rules to attract staff from abroad. That is not necessary, says the party, which believes that "robotisation will lead to substantial staff cuts in the coming years" and believes that people at home, who are not working, should be encouraged to work first.