Groep Maatwerk, as an employers’ federation, represents the interests of sheltered workshops, also known as “custom work companies”—or in other words, organizations that offer adapted work to individuals distanced from the labor market.
Founded in 1980 in Antwerp as VLAB, the Flemish Federation of Sheltered Workshops, Groep Maatwerk supports its 64 members through social consultation, policy advocacy, and the development of sectoral positions. Altogether, Groep Maatwerk’s members employed nearly 80 percent of the target group employees in the custom work sector in 2020, totalling 26,000 sheltered or custom workers.
Groep Maatwerk provides training on diverse topics to all those individuals, including safe social media usage, first aid, communication skills, self-care, financial management, and safety procedures.