Minister Eddy van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment: “In a civilized country like the Netherlands, we must better support labor migrants. More and more companies are looking for ways to do better for labor migrants. This covenant gives a positive boost. By working regionally together, companies, municipalities, and other parties can truly support labor migrants.”
Regional agreements are being made with companies, municipalities, and other organizations about what assistance will be provided. These may include agreements on better registration, learning the Dutch language, and providing accommodation for labor migrants who are at risk of becoming homeless. For example, the municipality of Meierijstad is starting a pilot project with employers to register their international employees in the Basic Registration of Persons. This registration takes place at locations where labor migrants work. It also occurs in the employees native languages, such as Romanian, Bulgarian, and Polish. The intention is to expand this pilot to other municipalities and employers in the Northeast Brabant region.
The alliance is part of the “Work in NL” project. This project aims to provide better information, assistance, and support to labor migrants. In eleven of the thirty-five labor regions, there are already special assistance points for labor migrants. In the remaining 24 regions, these points will be established in the coming months. All partnerships that are now starting will contribute positively to these points.
Organizations signing the covenant include ABU, COV, FME, Glastuinbouw Nederland, GroentenFruit Huis, LTO Nederland, MKB-Nederland, NBBU, NEPLUVI, Association of Housing Providers for Labor Migrants, Association of Dutch Municipalities, VNO-NCW. Minister Van Hijum is pleased that these organizations are signing the covenant as this is an important step towards good working, living, and life conditions for EU labor migrants.
