Foyer vzw
Rue des Ateliers 25, 1080 Molenbeek
00.32 (2) 411.74.95
Copyright © Foyer 2020
Rue des Ateliers 25, 1080 Molenbeek
00.32 (2) 411.74.95
Copyright © Foyer 2020
4 November 2025
The newspaper Le Soir has called on its readers to write letters to politicians about the political crisis in the Brussels Region. Our director shares her contribution:
Brussels still needs its GECO contracts (subsidised contractual agents)!
One of the problems in the political debate on the future of Brussels is the risk that someone will call the ACS-GEKO system into question in order to “save money”. In that case, the social world would certainly suffer from the discontinuation or severe reduction of this system.
Let’s take a look at the history of the system to understand what is at stake. This takes us back to the 1980s, a difficult period for the labour market, which often had to integrate unskilled people and failed to do so. That is why a TCT-DAC system was set up for these people, which led to the ACS (in French) – GEKO (in Dutch). This system ensured the integration of these people into the labour market by integrating them into the social and cultural world, which gave meaning to their lives and prevented them from eventually becoming clients of the OCMW. This system was therefore interesting for those involved, but at the same time it also developed into something interesting for civil society and non-profit organisations.
More than 40 years later, the ACS-GEKO system has become a pillar of the social world in Brussels. If we abolish this system, we will jeopardise social cohesion in Brussels on both sides (French-speaking and Dutch-speaking). Let us not forget that it is thanks to social cohesion that a city like Brussels has been able to weather difficult times, such as after the attacks and radicalisation. Thanks to this system, certain municipalities are able to maintain social cohesion, which benefits so many people.
At present, the outlook for social security is bleak. At a time when many people are experiencing financial difficulties, the ACS-GEKO system is indispensable for our society in order to better support people in crisis.
It is therefore essential to avoid at all costs any suggestion of undermining the ACS-GEKO system, which would amount to the virtual closure of social services in Brussels. This is not the time to entertain such an idea.
Brussels, with all its social and cultural complexity, really needs these ACS-GEKO centres. They are essential for social cohesion in Brussels. Civil society needs them!