So, as it is, in Belgium, after you have reached a certain amount of worked days, you are eligible for unemployment benefits. These benefits are unlimited in time and you can theoretically work the aformentioned days, get fired and get benefits until retirement.

Unions also play a big factor in the unemployment industry so to say as they are the ones taking care of the files for the workers to get the maximum out of their rights versus the government.

This system, while it has its flaws, makes sure that the workers of Belgium are protected from falling into poverty, giving them at least some money to get by.

The new neoliberal government will now make an end to this, citing the usual crap like lazy people taking advantage of the system, the need for budget cuts, whatever. They will limit the period of benefits to a maximum of two years. You will get one initial year if you have worked for one year in the three years prior to your request, with an option to get an additional month of benefits for every 4 months worked outside of that year, up to 1extra year.

This means that in order to get the maximum period of benefits, you need to have worked at least 5 years WITHOUT interruptions.

The vast majority of people getting benefits are hopping from one shitty interim job to another, barely getting by with benefits as their only safety net from extreme poverty. Because poverty is already what they are experiencing. The only options left beyond benefits is state welfare but the rules for that are so strict that most people currently unemployed will not be eligible for that, meaning they will have NO income.

These new measures are absolutely insane, threatening many people with dire poverty, and it will have tragic results on this country, believe me.

I will fight until the end for this. Not only because this affects my job as well, but because I cannot live in a society that deems this to be normal. Where is the solidarity man?