Wider labour opportunities for foreign students and asylum seekers
Foreign graduates and asylum seekers will be given more opportunities for employment in the Netherlands. By doing so the cabinet intends to enhance the Dutch knowledge economy and to make better use of the qualities of asylum seekers.
On Friday, May 25th, 2007 the Dutch cabinet agreed on a proposal to this end, put forward by minister Donner of Social Affairs and Employment, secretary of state Albayrak for Justice and minister Koenders of Development Cooperation.
Foreign graduates originating from outside the European Union will be given more time to find employment in the Netherlands. In future they will be allowed one year instead of the present three months to find work as knowledge migrants. During this year they will have to provide for themselves however, without receiving benefits. The minimum initial salary prescribed for foreign graduates will be lowered as well, from 34,130 to 25,000 euros. This new amount relates better to the amount that graduates could earn in practice.
Most asylum seekers will be allowed to work a maximum 24 weeks per year (which used to be 12 weeks). This new limit is in accordance with the room offered by the WW (the Netherlands Unemployment Act) and the WIA (Work and Income according to Labour Capacity Act). Employees that work no more than 24 weeks cannot rely on unemployment benefits or payment under the Work and Income Act. The cabinet considers it undesirable that people of whom it has not yet been established that they will be allowed permanent residence in the Netherlands would accrue such benefits. There is another norm for artists, musicians, people in the film business and technicians supporting these categories. They will be allowed to work no more than 14 weeks per year. These groups namely qualify for an unemployment benefit sooner than other occupations do.
The cabinet will work out its memorandum named “Naar een modern migratiebeleid” (Towards a modern migration policy) during this government term. Migration policy will increasingly be based on the concrete need for migrants in Dutch society.
Source: Press release Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, 31 May 2007
