Outgoing minister Eddy van Hijum (Social Affairs and Employment) prepares a ban on temporary workers in the meat sector. Too many abuses are taking place there with mainly labor migrants.
Van Hijum therefore wants employees, including labor migrants, to be in permanent employment. In this way abuses can be excluded. The prohibition can start at the earliest in a year. That is why Van Hijum lets the final choice to the next cabinet, a spokesperson said.
Also in other sectors things are not going well. Van Hijum wants to see well in cleaning, transport and cultivation. “This is not without obligation,” he warns. According to the minister, these sectors themselves also want to cooperate in extra enforcement and they themselves will “strengthen standards” for, for example, the number of permanent people.
More than 850,000 labor migrants are working in the Netherlands and it is expected that the number will increase to 1.2 million in 2030. But the problems regarding exploitation of this group of employees has been playing for years. They are often underpaid, have difficulty with housing and are often put on the street for unclear reasons.
Van Hijum has had a study carried out from which he concludes that certain labor laws are violated much more often if temporary workers are deployed. In two thirds of the checks that the Labor Inspectorate carried out between 2020 and 2022 at employment agencies and their clients there were violations. The meat sector stands out “in a negative sense”, the minister writes in a letter to the Chamber. Violations are “widespread and systematic” there.
The sector is given a year to put things in order. “In about a year we can assess whether the situation in the sector has been improved,” says Van Hijum.
‘Labor migration not the way to resolve a shortage’
The minister also believes that labor migration is not the way to resolve the shortage on the labor market. But certain sectors, such as construction, agriculture and horticulture and the distribution centers, cannot do without these employees.
“Then we have a mega problem,” Van Hijum tells Nu.nl. “We can’t just send them away. But as an economy we have become used to cheap labor. And we have to get rid of that.”
The minister was present earlier this week at the Labor Market Gate in The Hague, where a debate was held about the current state of the labor market in our country. The shortage, labor migration and a balance between fixed and flex were the main themes.
‘Looking critically at sectors’
According to Van Hijum, labor migration is not the solution to tackle the shortage of staff in different sectors. “I will never claim that we do not need labor migrants at all. But we must look more critically where and in which sectors we need it. It must also be clear how we can work smarter, for example through automation.”
Yet there are also many tech companies that run into the same problems. They are mainly looking for highly educated IT staff. And since there is also a shortage in that sector, these companies are forced to get knowledge migrants.
Van Hijum emphasizes that decent treatment of labor migrants is necessary. “And that is why we will tackle rogue employment agencies hard from now on. We also need the help of employers for that.”
Caretaker Minister Eddy van Hijum (Social Affairs and Employment) is a Ban on Temporary Workers in the Meat sector. Too many abuses occur there, mainly with labor migrants.
Van Hijum Therefore Wants Employees, Including Labor Migrants, To Be Permanently Employed. This way, abuses can be ruled out. The ban can take effect at the earlyiest in a year. That is Why van Hijum is Leaving the Final Choice to a Next Cabinet, A Spokesperson Said.
Things are not going well in other sectors either. Van Hijum Wants To See Improvements in Cleaning, Transport and Cultivation. “This is not Without obligation,” He Warns. Accordance to the minister, these sectors also because to cooperation in Extra Enforcement and They Themselves Will “Strengthen Standards” For Example, The Number of People in Permanent Employment.
There are more than 850,000 Labor Working in The Netherlands and the Expectation is that the Number Will Increase to 1.2 Million in 2030. But the Problems Surrounding the Exploitation of this Group of Employees have go on for year. They are ofs underpaid, have difficulty with housing and are often put on the street for unclear reasons.
Van Hijum Has had a study carried out from which he concludes that certain labor laws are violated much more or when temporary workers are used. In Two-Thirds of the Checks Carried Out by the Labor Inspectorate Between 2020 and 2022 at Employment Agencies and Their Clients, There Were Violations. The Meat Sector stands out “in a negative sense,” The minister writes in a letter to the house. Violations there are “wide spread and systematic.”
The sector has one year to put things in order. “In about a year we can assess Whether the situation in the sector Has Improved,” Says van Hijum.
‘Labor Migration is not the way to solve shortages’
The minister also believes that Labor Migration is not the way to solve the shortages in the Labor Market. But Certain Sectors, Such As Construction, Agriculture and Horticulture and Distribution Centers, Cannot do without these Employees Either.
“Then we have a mega problem,” Van Hijum Tells Nu.nl. “We can’t just send them away. But as an economy we have Become battery to cheap labor. And we have to get rid of that.”
The Minister was present Earlier This Week at the Labor Market Gate in the Hague, where a Debate was hero on the current state of the Labor Market in our country. The Shortages, Labor Migration and Finding A Balance Between Permanent and Flexible Were The Main Themes.
‘Critically look at sectors’
Accordance to Van Hijum, Labor Migration is not the solution to tackle the shortage of personnel in Various sectors. “I will never claim that we do not need any labor migrants at all. But we need to take a more critical look at where and in which sectors we need them. We must also take a good look at how we can work smarter, for examples through automation.”
However, there are also a many tech companies that face the same problems. They are mainly looking for highly educated ICT staff. And since there is also a shortage in that sector, these companies are forced to bring in knowledge migrants.
Van Hijum Emphasizes That Decent Treatment of Labor Migrants is Necessary. “And that is why we are going to tackle rogue employment agencies hard from now on. We also need the help of employers for this.”