Languages trainers in damage claim after integration hype
A company that gives Dutch language courses for immigrants is demanding damages from Amsterdam city council. The capital city provides practically no students.
The company, A Deux in Almere, has demanded 1.5 million euros in compensation from Amsterdam city council. The company has instigated summary proceedings against the capital city, lawyer Harry den Besten disclosed. The claim of 1.5 million euros is an advance on a total damages claim of about 2.5 million euros, which Den Besten will submit later.
A few years ago, then Integration Minister Rita Verdonk decided that up to 600,000 immigrants would have to take a Dutch language course over the next few years. All sorts of companies were then set up to offer these courses.
A Deux agreed with Amsterdam that the city would refer 1,500 residents per year to the company for a course. Last year, though, the city only sent 102 immigrants for lessons, so that the company is facing bankruptcy, the lawyer explained.
Training institutes in other cities are also suffering substantial losses because of the low priority given to language courses by many local governments and the present Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar. Vogelaar simplified the rules for integration a few months ago.
Source: NIS News, 25 February 2008
and i went...
