Transcript WORKING AND LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS

WORKING AND LIVING IN
THE NETHERLANDS
Hannie Eilers
Eures Adviser
The Netherlands
•
41.526 Km2
• Inhabitants > 16 mil
• Average density of
population:
-
387 per km2
-
1000 per km2
in Randstad!
The PES&EURES/district
Centre for Work and Income
• Public Employment Services
• Registration unemployed (passport/sofinr.)
- (E intake)
• Welfare benefits (E forms)
• Search for work and mediation
• Knowledge of local labourmarket
• Advise on reintegration processes
• Active Eures partner
The Netherlands?
Political structure
•
•
•
•
•
Constitutional monarchy
Two chambers in Parliament
Many political parties
Elections every 4 year
Three levels:
– National – Provincial – Local
Social structure
• Residents
• Social benefits
• Employees
• Health insurance
– Depending on domestic • Sickness benefits
situation
• Unemployment
• General old age
benefits
pensions
• Disablements benefits
• Widows/widowers/
orphans
• Child benefits
Employers federations
• Private organisations of employers
• Sector bound
• Partner in discussions with government
and trade unions (social partners)
• Negotiators collective labour agreements
(CAO)
Present situation
• Still growing economy
• Low rate of unemployment
• 342.000 unemployed (4.4 %)
• 10.9 % unemployed between 15-24
years old
The North
►
Rural
►
Tourism
►
Education (Leeuwarden,
Groningen)
►
Transport
►
Retail
The East
►
Rural
►
Administration
►
Tourism
►
Education (Enschede)
►
Transport
►
Retail
►
Care
The South
►
Rural
►
Industry in Brabant
►
Administration
►
Construction
►
Tourism
►
Education (Maastricht)
►
Transport
►
Retail
►
Care
The West (Randstad)
►
Highly industrialized
►
Harbors, Airports
►
Highest number of jobs
►
Education (Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden,
Delft)
►
Urban agglomeration
The near future
•
•
•
•
•
•
Up to 2010 yearly growth of 2.25 %
Decrease in jobs in:
Agriculture
Metal and industry (partly)
Electronics
Chemistry
The near future 2
•
•
•
•
Young people choose blue collar
Shortage of craftsmen
Demographic developments
Need for: plumbers, welders, carpenters,
construction workers, gardeners, fitters,
motor mechanics, commercial sales
representatives, hotel and restaurant staff
(cooks!)
Living and Working –
Registration
• Obtain a sofi-number (BSN or fiscal
number) at tax office. Check for addresses:
www.belastingdienst.nl
• Suggestion: Visit (im)migration counter
(GBA) of the Civil Affairs Department
(Burgerzaken) at you local council.
• 6 months to find work in the Netherlands
E-forms
• E301  leaving Holland? Issued by
UWV  check with local office.
• Application for unemployment benefits? 
registration with E301 at CWI of your
residence.
• E303 / E119 should be taken to CWI of
your residence as soon as possible after
arrival in the Netherlands.
How to find a job?
• Personal contacts
• Newspapers
• Public Employment Service / CWI 
www.werk.nl
• Internet (incl EU-site)
• Speculative applications  common and
successful
• Temporary Work Agencies!
Temporary work agencies
• Widespread in Holland
• Special Legislation
• How to inscribe?
– CV
– Sofi number/ BSN number
– Bank account
– For free
• More information: www.werk.nl
Contracts?
• Temporary labour contract
• Permanent labour contract
• Contract with an agency
• More information: www.werk.nl
Wages
• Legal minimum wage
– Depending on age
• 15-22 years old: lower percentage
• 23 and up:
fixed minimum wage
• CAO Collective Labour Agreement
– For different sectors of industry
– Counts for all workers in the company
• Individual agreement
How to apply
►
Letter of motivation accompanied by cv
►
Telephone
►
E-mail (be sure you always sent your application by post
as well)
►
If invited for an interview  check culture company
Housing
• Rented houses:
• Availability depends on the
location
– Randstad: very rare
– Less crowded: easier
available
• For sale:
• Prices depend on the
location
– Randstad: very
expensive
– Less crowded: less
expensive
Usefull Websites
• http://www.werk.nl
(site PES Holland) Working in the Netherlands
• http://www.belastingdienst.nl  Taxes
• http://www.svb.nl  Social Security
• www.undutchables.nl
• www.abroad-experience.com
• www.expatica.com
Cultural differences
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Individual
Open minded
Informal
Hardworking
Humour
Direct
Tolerant
QUESTIONS?
C U in the Netherlands
Thank you for your attention!