Alberto speaks very cheerfully about her work at the neighborhood hub. I really lucked out with my job. First, I enjoy helping the people of Rotterdam. They come with questions about, for example, waste. Or they come to report something broken in their neighborhood, like a lamppost. Second, I work in the neighborhood where I live. That works out nicely because its close by and I know the neighborhood and the people well.  

Paralysis

Alberto lives a very different life than years ago. Back then, she was still living in Curaçao and was as fit as a fiddle. That suddenly changed when she became paralyzed. Fortunately, Alberto is no longer paralyzed, but she still suffers from permanent back problems. As a result, she cant walk or stand for long periods. Alberto works half days so she has energy left for the rest of the day. I had to adopt a completely different lifestyle. Now I plan all my activities 

Life Upside Down

Because I really had to rehabilitate, I moved from Curaçao to the Netherlands. Here, the healthcare is much better. I was told that the recovery would take years. Thats why I decided to build a new life here, together with my children. That meant I also had to look for a new job here. That wasnt easy with my back problems. Before I started working for the municipality, I worked for a foundation for years. There, I didnt get a permanent contract. With a job coach from the Employer Service Point Rijnmond, I continued to look and ended up at the neighborhood hub.

Job Guarantee

People like Alberto, who cant earn the statutory minimum wage independently due to a physical or mental disability, are eligible for a job guarantee. This is a workplace with a regular employer where they receive extra support. For example, job coaching, a workplace adaptation, or a provision to travel to and from work. The employer receives a wage cost subsidy. The no-risk policy also applies. This means that when the employee becomes ill, the employer receives compensation from the UWV.

Dont Notice Anything

On the work floor, Alberto doesnt notice that she receives extra support. It feels like a normal job to me. If my health allows, I can even work a bit more in the long run. I also do training and courses to become better in my field. I want to do my job as well as possible and fully commit to it. Thats what I want to convey to everyone: people with a job guarantee are very motivated.  

Finally, she also has a tip for employers: Be open to people in a job guarantee and look at what they can do. Just like with anyone else. Then you help people who find it difficult to get a job due to circumstances to become better as a person. And also in what they are good at.

Outcome

This job guarantee is a solution for Alberto. Is she bothered that she has a job guarantee instead of a regular position? Not at all! You know, if you start working somewhere in a regular position, your contract can be extended three times. After that, you might get a permanent contract or lose your job. With a job guarantee, you dont have that problem and can keep working. There is also a bit more understanding for the situation you are in.  

At the Municipality of Rotterdam, 453 people work in a job guarantee. 10 of them work in one of the neighborhood hubs. Are you inspired by this story and want to know more about the possibilities of job guarantees? Then look at the page Job Guarantee.