“Qui la mentalità è migliore”: perché i valloni Stephane (42), Jérôme (27) e Sebastien (42) lavorano nelle Fiandre

**VDAB and its Walloon counterpart Forem are going to work more closely together to fill Flemish vacancies with Walloon employees. This has been agreed by Ministers Zuhal Demir (N-VA) and Pierre-Yves Jeholet (MR). What do Walloons who already work here think about this? ‘Employers in Wallonia are less open to young people than here in Flanders,’ says Stephane (42) from Mouscron, who works in Hulste.**

The labour market in Flanders is struggling with a huge shortage. In order to fill vacancies, the Flemish government wants to attract additional workers from Wallonia. This is what Flemish Minister of Employment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has said. At the same time, Wallonia also wants to get more people into work. A win-win situation for both regions, therefore.

Under the new agreement, VDAB and its Walloon counterpart Forem will focus primarily on the exchange of data, job vacancies and training opportunities, so that the right information reaches the right target groups more quickly. From now on, Walloon job seekers will also face sanctions if they refuse Flemish job vacancies, as is already the case for Flemish job seekers.

But who are the Walloons who are already moving to Flanders to work? And why are they doing so?

**Stephane (42) and Sebastien (42): ‘The mentality in Flanders is better’**

Stephane Janssens (42) and Sebastien Hernandez (42) are both from Mouscron and both work at the construction company Construx Group in Hulste near Harelbeke. The company is active in metal construction and the rental of moulds and machines for the concrete sector. For them, the choice to work in Flanders was almost self-evident.

‘The first job I found was in Flanders, because there wasn’t much work in Wallonia,’ says Stephane. ‘The Flemish labour market is much more diverse. It’s just easier to find work here.’

‘I immediately liked the mentality here,’ he continues. ‘Employers in Wallonia are less open to young people than here in Flanders. Young people are given more opportunities here and more is invested in their growth. My sons also work in Flanders. At school, they were told that it is difficult to find internships in Wallonia, whereas in Flanders you can find them almost immediately.’

Sebastien recognises this too. ‘After completing my car bodywork degree, I started working in the metal industry as a welder at the age of 18. I found work more quickly in Flanders and the wages are higher there too.’

Both believe that Walloon employers should follow Flanders’ example. ‘The son of a friend of mine visited 18 garages without finding work,’ says Stephane. ‘In Flanders, he found work immediately.’

According to them, Walloon employers should focus more on collaborating with the education sector and on training in the workplace. ‘The Walloons need to give young people more opportunities and be more open,’ concludes Stephane. ‘They should take a closer look at what is happening in Flanders.’

**Jérôme (27): ‘My Dutch is improving’**

Jérôme Hoet from Mouscron in Hainaut is exactly the kind of young person who, according to Stephane and Sebastien, is seizing opportunities in Flanders. He has now been working for five months at Soubry, a pasta company in Roeselare, barely a thirty minutes’ drive from his home. ‘I got the job through acquaintances who already worked here,’ he says. ‘I am very happy with my choice.’

According to Jérôme, there are indeed fewer interesting job opportunities in Wallonia. ‘Especially if you want to progress to a position as a team leader, like me,’ he adds. Soubry traditionally employs many French people: of the 420 employees, 80 come from northern France and only about ten from Wallonia.

Nevertheless, Jérôme advises other Walloon job seekers to make the move to Flanders. ‘There is hardly any real language barrier. Almost everyone here speaks French well, and you are welcomed with open arms. At the same time, I notice that my Dutch is improving much faster here.’

Jérôme himself applied for jobs in both Flanders and Wallonia. In the end, the Flemish company came out on top. ‘If the distance isn’t too great, I wouldn’t hesitate,’ he advises his fellow job seekers.