News item | 13-04-2022 | 09:59
The minimum rate for interpreters working for the national government will increase from 43.98 euros per hour to 55 euros per hour. Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security has decided this now that the system review in the tendering of interpretation services is in full swing. Due to the higher minimum rate, there is a firmer basis for interpreters to negotiate payment for the services they provide in the new system, for example in court cases, questioning suspects by the police and in (asylum) procedures for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). ).
Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives today. The system review was initiated by the previous cabinet because the central government was confronted with a number of bottlenecks in the old system of interpreting and translation services. In the past, national government organizations often used interpreters who were not registered in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators, while registration from the register is required to guarantee and check the quality of the work. All interpreting services must also be put out to tender by the government in accordance with European guidelines.
Central government outsources interpreting services to intermediaries through public tenders. Self-employed qualified interpreters who want to carry out public contracts receive the assignments through these intermediaries. As of 1 July 2020, a step has already been taken in the system review by changing the fixed hiring rate for interpreters into a minimum rate. Through discussions between the intermediaries and the individual interpreters, the fees can then develop further upwards on the basis of supply and demand.
Initial cautious insights based on some contracts already awarded show a slight increase in the rates for interpreters.
,,But this development is still covered with too few certainties and therefore less solid and clear than I would like. To make a solid step forward for every interpreter, I therefore increase the minimum rate to 55 euros per hour. This rate should provide a firmer basis for interpreters working independently and the intermediaries in order to be able to arrive at an even higher rate based on supply and demand.”
said the minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.
The plan is to implement the increase in the minimum rate by 1 January 2023 at the latest. The further progress of the system review is monitored by the Ministry of Justice and Security. This keeps a finger on the pulse of the deployment of qualified interpreters. Conversations with interpreters’ representatives also revealed a need for more insight into the development of fees. To this end, the minister will introduce more transparency in the monitoring.
“Interpreters are an indispensable link in many legal processes of the government. In criminal cases we are talking about a crucial role here, which can already start with a police interrogation if a suspect does not have sufficient command of the Dutch language until the courtroom. It is therefore of great importance that a professional market for interpreting services can develop with reasonable compensation.”
said Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.