The protection of migrant workers is paramount. Therefore, the cabinet has decided not to start phasing out the deduction possibility yet. The proposal will also not be sent to the Council of State for advice at this time.
An earlier exploration shows that the regulation has various aspects in practice. The regulation increases the dependency of migrant workers on employers and can contribute to an undesirable profit model. On the other hand, the regulation makes it easier for migrant workers and employers to arrange housing.
Additionally, through this regulation, the government can set quality requirements for the housing. For example, the employer may only deduct money for housing if the dwelling is certified. Abolishing the regulation would mean losing this form of supervision.
Phasing out the regulation could lead to a worsening situation for migrant workers due to the current housing market position. The cabinet also does not want to phase out the regulation now because other measures to protect migrant workers regarding housing are not yet fully implemented.
At the same time, the cabinet is working on strengthening the position of migrant workers by reducing their dependency on employers and limiting undesirable profit models. For example, there are Work in NL information points to inform migrant workers about their rights. The bill on the admission and provision of labor (Wtta) improves the position of vulnerable workers, especially migrant workers. Additionally, the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) is working on a bill to improve the rental protection of migrant workers.
