In a stark revelation from the Social-Economic Council of Flanders (SERV), a recent survey highlights the overwhelming burden faced by healthcare and welfare workers in the region.
Released on Wednesday, the report underscores a pervasive sentiment among nearly half of the sector’s employees that their workload is unsustainable.
Of the nearly 5,000 respondents surveyed, a staggering 49.5% expressed concerns about the feasibility of their jobs. Many cited physical and mental fatigue as daily companions, exacerbated by the enduring impacts of the Covid-19 crisis.
According to Evert Persoon, federal secretary at SERV, these findings echo earlier reports by the Association of Employees, Technicians, and Managers (BBTK), further emphasizing the sector’s ongoing struggles.
“The figures are alarming for a sector that has been drowning since the Covid-19 crisis,” Persoon remarked, noting a significant increase in stress-related complaints compared to previous years.
The report reveals a notable shift in worker satisfaction since 2004, with almost 40% reporting heightened stress levels—well above the Flemish average.
Concerns extend beyond mere workload, with 16% of respondents indicating a decline in job satisfaction and 12.7% lamenting inadequate learning opportunities despite political rhetoric on lifelong learning initiatives.
Highlighting the human toll behind the statistics, Persoon cautioned against overlooking the personal challenges faced by healthcare and welfare workers.
“Employees in the sector are sometimes called ‘Heroes,’ but we must not forget that these are ordinary people who also seek fair compensation and conducive working conditions,” he emphasized.
The BBTK, responding to the survey’s findings, has called for decisive action to address these issues. At a 2023 conference, stakeholders rallied behind a proposal for a collective reduction in working hours—a measure aimed at enhancing job sustainability and sector attractiveness.
Less than half of healthcare and welfare employees currently work full-time, reflecting a shift towards part-time arrangements to manage workload and maintain work-life balance.
Advocating for a progressive approach to labor organization, the BBTK proposes a phased implementation of reduced working hours across the sector—a strategy they describe as essential for modernizing workforce practices.
Looking ahead, the union intends to initiate negotiations for new social agreements next year, emphasizing the urgency of improved wages and employment conditions in healthcare and welfare.
“We call on the future government to allocate adequate budgets to support these measures,” the BBTK stated, underscoring the sector’s critical importance to society at large.
As Belgium grapples with the aftermath of the pandemic, the plight of healthcare and welfare workers serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing essential sectors.
With calls growing louder for sustainable reforms, the focus remains steadfast on securing a brighter, more equitable future for those dedicated to the nation’s health and social welfare.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
