Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is hosting a panel discussion on labour migration in Belgium. The event, titled “Should Belgium attract more migrant workers?” will be held on 27 March 2024 at the Muntpunt Library in Dutch. The goal of the event is to go beyond the mainstream debate on  migration, which is often centred around topics such as international protection or family reunification while a large portion of migrants arriving in Belgium appear to be labour migrants. 

The panel will focus on the present and future of labour migration. VUB researchers will discuss the needs and challenges of the Belgian labour market, profiles of migrant workers settling in the country, and the future of migration policy. Furthermore, the discussion will focus on the insertion of migrants into the labour market and whether current policies and measures are sufficient.

Panel speakers will include Dr. Amy Weatherburn (ULB and VUB), postdoctoral researcher, lawyer and expert on labour migration, labour market exploitation and human trafficking; Professor Eva Van Belle, lecturer at VUB and expert in labour market discrimination and inequality; Hassan Al Hilou, founder of Capital vzw and VUB fellow; Jan Knockaert, coordinator Fairwork Belgium; Stefaan Peirsman, staff member at ACV Migration & Discrimination.

The goal of the panel event is to engage policy makers, civil society and social partners in dialogue in order to solidify the debate surrounding labour migration in search of practical solutions. Registration is possible until 25 March 2024.