‘As more people are allowed into the Netherland, moved from the refugee shelter to a town, they are put through an introduction programme. They go through a citizenship’s course, where they learn Dutch, as well as having their qualifications and work experience checked,’ Nijhuis states.
Refugees can play an important role in taking jobs which are difficult to be filled by Dutch labourers.
Nijhuis: ‘The last few weeks, we’ve received many telephone calls from employers from the technical sector, where there are many shortages in labour. If a refugee comes here with a technical background, they could potentially fill a vacancy that has been open for a long time. There are initiatives being started to be able to match labour supply to demand, but we must also be sure that the qualifications of the person fit with the job.’ The council and the Uitvoeringsinstituut werknemersverzekeringen (UWV) have the same responsibility to refugees as they do to other jobseekers.
In principle, all the refugees with residency status within the Netherlands have access to the labour market, except for professions within the Police or some security functions. The refugees who come to our country are incredibly diverse in its composition. Around 20 – 25% of the refugees have higher education, but there are many people in between at an MBO-level. Around 25% of the refugees have a lower education. At this moment, many of the refugees are coming from Syria and Eritrea, but there are also many jobseekers from, for example, Iraq, Afghanistan, and West-Africa.
If there is no singular profile for the Refugees, how can we help them? ‘We are looking in particular at trying to help those who are not independent. Most of those in our project Startbaan are refugees that we already know, because there were already in contact with VluchtelingenWerk during their Citizenship course. There are many benefits for refugees undertaking this course so that they come to know Dutch companies and how to function on the Dutch work floor. How to communicate effectively with colleges or managers, how the work floor looks, how to file for a meeting with a solicitor, all so that refugees can better function as a normal employee.’
There are also refugees who have seen terrible things, but as an employer, you do not need to fear that your new employee may be traumatised. Nijhuis: ‘The refugees that have undergone solicitation with us are completely ready to work. Employers will have to give a more intensive guidance to refuges at the beginning, so that trust can build with the tasks which they have been given, as well as understanding the formal and informal codes are.’ The rounding up of the daily routine is importance so as to give refugees a new perspective.
Source: P&O Actueel