Diversity policy in employment and service provision - Case study: Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp is the largest city in Flanders and its population comprises around 13% foreigners. Yet a quarter of the inhabitants have a migration background and they represent 30% of the working population. Until recently, the diversity policy adopted by the city focused on specific target groups – people with a migration background was one of them. It was a categorial diversity policy. And specific departments were in charge to stimulate and support the policy through specific measures and actions with respect to each specific target group. The Integration Service and in particular the IS diversity consultants developed intensive contacts with some other services such as the Urban Poverty Department. The main challenges remain the language barriers and the recruitment procedures of the city.