Advisory body SER wants better employment support for newcomers

The Social and Economic Council (SER) has reported that newcomers, including asylum seekers, status holders, and displaced persons from Ukraine, face significant obstacles when attempting to enter the labor market in the Netherlands. Currently, only 57 percent of status holders are employed eight years after receiving their status, often in temporary or part-time roles. This is largely due to systemic issues such as housing instability, long waiting times in the asylum system, and the difficulty of balancing mandatory language and integration requirements with work commitments.

To improve these outcomes, the SER proposes that municipalities take a more active role in guiding newcomers into sustainable employment. Furthermore, the council suggests that industries facing labor shortages should contribute financially to training programs, enabling workers to acquire necessary skills. By fostering better collaboration between the government, trade unions, and employers, the SER aims to streamline the transition process and help newcomers fill critical vacancies more effectively.