Employment agencies in Assen and the surrounding area are working on a separate counter to help Ukrainian refugees find work. Through this contact point, they are referred to work that suits them, such as in production, technology or green. This is a unique project for Drenthe, says Ranil Briek of employment agency Olympia.
“It is still in its infancy here, but we know that it is a great success in Amsterdam,” says Briek. “A total of about six or seven employment agencies are interested in setting up such a counter.”
The agencies normally see each other primarily as competitors, but Briek thinks they can actually work together instead. It’s not about making a profit, it’s about doing a service to refugees. “This is really from the social interest, not because of the commercial benefits. You spend a lot of time on this, and that is not in proportion to what it yields below the line.”