Balanz@Work Kerkrade offers employment opportunities in the cleaning industry

The municipality of Kerkrade and the companies Balanz Facilitair and Relim have joined forces in the Balanz@Work Kerkrade project. The objective of the project is to guide people with a distance to the labor market to suitable work in the cleaning industry. The project kicked off on Tuesday, June 1, with the signing of the covenant in the Flexiforum in Kerkrade. 

The municipality of Kerkrade wants to give people with a distance to the labor market opportunities to participate in society. And it does so in cooperation with social partners. The municipality's primary aim in this regard is paid work. To achieve this, it is important that organizations become inclusive. Cleaning company Balanz Facilitair participates in the project to prevent a growing shortage of employees. On behalf of the municipality, training company Relim guides welfare recipients in participation and reintegration.

Ten participants per year

Together, these parties have set up an apprenticeship line focused on cleaning. The objective is to get people from welfare to gainful employment at Balanz Facilitair. The project has room for ten participants per year. The moment someone finds a permanent job, another participant can join.

Intensive counseling

The participants receive intensive guidance in the project. This starts already in the so-called preliminary program at Relim. In this program, the skills necessary for participation are worked on.                

Within the entire program, there is a focus not only on vocational skills, but also on employee skills, social skills, vitality and health of the participants. The participants are trained internally and supervised by professionals from the participating parties.

After completing the preliminary training, the candidates move on to Balanz Facilitair. There they initially gain three months of low-threshold experience of working in the cleaning industry. After this introductory period, the candidates are trained in the program to become certified cleaning employees. Upon completion of the training they receive the official - by the industry recognized - diploma Basic Cleaning Training. If they perform well, Balanz Facilitair offers the candidates a permanent contract of employment after a maximum period of 23 months.

Future

For Balanz Facilitair, Balanz@Work Kerkrade offers an excellent opportunity to generate a new influx of employees in the increasingly tightening labor market. Alderman Huub Wiermans: "With the recognized professional diploma, the skills learned and experience gained, the participants can find a sustainable workplace, which will help them get out of welfare and build on their future." Similar projects in other municipalities have also shown that participants who successfully complete this program experience a positive effect socially as well as on their health.

Caption photo: Balanz Facilitair, Relim and the municipality of Kerkrade signed the Balanz@Work Kerkrade covenant. From left to right Nino Bellinzis, director Relim, Alderman Huub Wiermans and Maurice Frijns, operational manager Balanz Facilitair.