News item | 24-06-2022 | 16:15
There is plenty of work. This offers people opportunities, also for those who are on the sidelines or have a less strong position in the labor market. At the same time, there is an exceptional shortage in a large number of sectors, in the Netherlands and also in Europe. A shortage that will not just disappear or can be easily solved. That is why the government is working on a labor market that is more resilient to periods of shortage. The government sees a clear role for the government, in addition to the essential role of employers and workers themselves. This is what Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
For example, due to staff shortages, there are classes without a teacher and delayed treatments in health care. In addition, tens of thousands of additional technically trained people will be needed in the coming years to achieve the climate targets. In the long run, staff shortages threaten our broad prosperity and earning potential.
There is no simple short-term or long-term solution. Government, employers and employees must work together. In the cabinet-wide approach presented by the cabinet, the cabinet outlines a wide range of existing and yet to be developed measures in three directions: better matching between the supply and demand of labour, increasing the supply of labor and reducing the demand for labor. In addition, the government is investigating a number of more far-reaching measures.
The cabinet also makes an explicit appeal to employers and employees to make an extra effort. For example, employers can better find and retain the current group of job seekers by offering better terms of employment and other recruitment. They can also focus on innovation and thus increase the productivity of employees. In turn, employees can make use of the training opportunities that are now available, so that they can be widely deployed in a changing labor market. The cabinet also encourages employees who can and want to work more hours. Just those few hours a week can make all the difference, employers also have a role in this. The government, in turn, is encouraging this by taking measures to make work more rewarding, such as raising the minimum wage, lowering the tax burden, particularly for low and middle incomes, workers and families, and looking at lowering the marginal pressure.
Next week, Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science and Minister Wiersma for Primary and Secondary Education will present an approach specifically for education. Tackling the teacher shortage is important because education will train the workers of the future. Minister Helder for Long-term Care and Sport has previously sent a letter to the House of Representatives about her approach to the healthcare labor market and is now working out the program plan for the Future-Proof Care Labor Market. Several other ministers will send sector-specific letters to the House of Representatives in the coming months.