Faced with the steadily rising number of people unable to work, Walloon Minister for Employment and Training Pierre-Yves Jeholet is strengthening measures to help them return to work. More than 218,000 people in Wallonia are currently recognised as having a disability, a reality that represents a human, social and economic challenge all at once.
For the Minister, it is essential to shift the logic. Rather than waiting for people to drift permanently away from the labour market, the goal is now to intervene earlier, better coordinate the relevant stakeholders and offer more personalised support. This approach rests on a simple conviction: many people retain abilities and skills that can be put to good use through a tailored path.
The Forem will play a central role in this strategy, working alongside specialist operators active in the field. The pathways on offer will combine support, training and gradual reintegration depending on each person's situation. The ambition is to progressively reach up to 12,000 new support pathways per year by 2029.
For Pierre-Yves Jeholet, work is often a factor of integration, autonomy and rebuilding. "We cannot accept that thousands of people remain permanently excluded from employment when potential exists. Our responsibility is to act earlier, better coordinate our actions and offer concrete solutions to put these people back on the path to work," he stresses.
This reform reflects the Walloon Government's determination to promote employment, address labour shortages and enable everyone whose situation allows it to regain an active place in society.