Concretely, how does this translate?
Employment assistance is an advantage that an employer who hires you can benefit from. This advantage is generally financial and takes the form of subsidies. In concrete terms, if you benefit from employment assistance, your employer will receive money to pay your salary. Your employer can also benefit from exemption from social security contributions or from ONSS reductions depending on the employment aid concerned. This aid is granted according to conditions linked to your situation (registration as a jobseeker with the Forem, age, place of residence, disability, etc.).
The various employment aids
- APE
Aid for the promotion of employment (APE) are subsidies granted to employers in the non-profit sector (socio-cultural, health, social action, etc.), local authorities (municipal administrations, CPAS, regional and community bodies ) and education located in Wallonia and which hire.
- SESAM
Sesam is an annual flat-rate subsidy given to companies with less than 50 employees in the commercial sector located in French-speaking Wallonia, to hire staff.
- The first job agreement (CPE agreement)
The CPE is intended for Walloons under the age of 26. It enables them to find a job once they have finished their studies, by granting subsidies to employers. This integration plan for young graduates is also known as the “Rosetta plan”.
- First commitments
If you are the first worker hired in a private sector company, your employer will be exempt from social security contributions for the duration of your employment. From the second to the sixth worker, your employer will be able to benefit from an ONSS reduction ranging from 450 to 1,550 €/quarter for a determined number of quarters.
- Impulse -25 years
If you are a young job seeker under the age of 25, you can receive work allowance for three years. Your employer will deduct this benefit from your salary. This aid concerns all sectors and is granted according to certain conditions (in particular related to the level of diploma).
- Pulse 12 months +
If you are a long-term job seeker (having not been at work for at least 12 months), you can benefit, subject to conditions, from a work allowance for a maximum of two years. Your employer deducts this allowance from your salary.
You can find all the details on these employment aids and the conditions for accessing them by following this link: https://www.leforem.be/particuliers/aides-financieres-emploi.html
Apply for aid to your future employer
All employers are not necessarily aware of the aid they could benefit from by hiring you. You can therefore mention these aids in your CV and/or cover letter and talk about them during your job interview. This will let your potential employer know that they could benefit from cost reductions if they hire you and this could tip the balance in your favor.