Unago

Unago Recrutement is the first recruitment agency in Belgium for people with a judicial past. It helps companies find motivated, good quality staff while helping people who have been in detention reintegrate into society, a double purpose it sums up as "Ensemble, osons la reinsertion". The name itself is meant to carry that philosophy: Unago stands for agir ensemble, acting together, and for a commitment to building bridges between very different sectors, from the social to the public to the private, in order to build a more inclusive and equitable future. Alongside placements the agency runs a programme d'accompagnement and ateliers de sensibilisation for employers, and publishes separate FAQ sections for employers and for candidates. It operates as an ASBL and the site is available in French and Dutch.

The case Unago makes is a social one grounded in figures. People leaving detention have a 70 per cent chance of returning, but that risk falls to 15 per cent when they find work. On release they face stigmatisation, a lack of support, difficulty finding stable housing, debt and in some cases broken family and social ties, all of which make reintegration harder. A return to work, by contrast, rebuilds confidence, creates social connection and restores autonomy, which the agency treats as the elements a successful reinsertion depends on. Its stated values are inclusion, accompaniment, respect for difference, work and transparency.

The service runs in three stages: pre-embauche coaching, mise a l'emploi, and post-embauche follow-up over a 12 month period, so that each placement is supported through to success. In two years Unago has met 171 candidates, won the trust of 28 companies, delivered 615 pre-hire hours and built 82 public partnerships. It was nominated at the hub.awards 2023 in the Start category, and the Belgian press has covered it repeatedly as an agency unlike the others, one that connects employers with people with a judicial past and works with around fifteen companies open to hiring former detainees. Nils de Chevigny, COO at Embelco Art Shipping, credits Unago's work for a candidate who showed a genuine will to work and to invest himself.