Gent finds new roles for most workers affected by budget cuts

The city of Gent in Belgium has identified new roles or retraining paths for approximately two out of every three municipal workers affected by a major restructuring program.

The city started the first phase of layoffs this year as part of a 120 million euro annual budget reduction. This plan involves the elimination of 416 total positions. The city uses a priority system to help staff transition.

Workers in this group can apply for internal vacancies, move into different roles within municipal services, or participate in retraining programs. Some employees also choose to leave voluntarily in exchange for a premium. So far, 130 workers entered this priority arrangement. Of those, 61 have secured a permanent solution and 23 are currently undergoing retraining. Alderman Burak Nalli says the city focuses on guiding staff toward a new future either inside or outside the organization.

The city currently searches for placements for 41 remaining workers, while 5 others are completing internships to see if a specific role suits them. The city administration uses these figures to show that internal job movement remains possible in a large organization. The city provides individual support for those facing job loss, including scheduled reviews at 3, 6, and 9 months to assess necessary support.

If a contractual worker does not find a new role by the end of the priority period, their contract ends. For statutory workers, the city assigns a different role within the organization. The city has not yet decided if it will face additional budget cuts beyond the current plan.