07.09.2001
Labour market conditions favourable to Dutch youth
Jan Stam, FNV, Netherlands
Neither in the Netherlands, nor in Amsterdam significant problems on the labour market exist for young people. The figures presented by Barbara Tham have shown you this. Does it mean, that there are no problems at all for juveniles? Of course not. Young persons with employment problems often face other problems as well. Being young and belonging to a minority at the same time can lead to an important backlog. The unemployment rate among persons belonging to minorities is four times as high as the one among the autochthonous Dutch people. This problem is tackled by the Great Citycouncil:
- the physical pillar
- the economic pillar
- the social pillar
A project in the scope of the Citycouncil should unite all three pillars.
In the Netherlands, a widespread system of subsidized work is maintained. The so-called WIW adresses to young people below the age of 24 years. The young persons are at the community’s service and made available by several organizations. Their wage consists of 100-120% of the minimum wage. The goal is to obtain a position on the regular labour market.
Important financial means in favour of formation and labour market projects are provided by the Ono-Funds. This money is made available by the expert federations and employer’s organizations. Within a sector a small percentage of the wage is placed into the funds. Meanwhile, they contain millions that can be used for several projects.
Everybody mentions the „polder model" existing in the Netherlands. A new branch of this model placed in the regions comprises the so-called Regional Platforms Labour Market. The communities, the expert federations, the employer’s organizations, formation institutions etc. are the participants. In the scope of these platforms, projects on labour market issues are discussed. They are financed and implemented commonly and effectively by the different parties.
These instruments are some of the facilities exisiting in the Netherlands. We realize that we are in a luxurious position. Youth unemployment is a problem rooted in the past. Education problems and an unfavourable social environment can lead to problems on the labour market.
To prevent youth problems in the future a good social environment for the younger children has to be worked on.
We are conscious of the fact, that we are in a luxurious situation in the Netherlands.
