News item | 11-10-2022 | 16:26
In these times of staff shortages, it is important that employers, workers and job seekers receive the right help when they knock on a door with questions about work. In order to improve the match between supply and demand, the cabinet wants to work with regional counters, personal work plans and an improved offer for retraining or further training. That is what Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment and Minister Schouten for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions write in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The government wants to thoroughly improve services on the labor market. The ambition is to set up at least one counter in all 35 labor market regions, so that employers, workers and job seekers know where to turn with questions about work. Government agencies, social partners, implementing organizations and companies must work together to ensure that employees and employers who come forward are actually helped.
People’s needs at the center
Now some of the employers, workers and job seekers are left out because they do not know all the arrangements, do not receive the services they need on time or do not know which agencies can help. That is why the system must be made simpler and more accessible, both ministers say.
Minister Van Gennip: “When employers, workers or job seekers knock on the door with questions about work, they must be helped and not simply referred. In these times we really need each other. That is why it is so important that all parties involved work together in an integrated way to help people find work or to offer support to employers.”
Minister Schouten: “There are still too many people on the sidelines. And that while everyone, with or without a disability, has talents to deploy and there is a great need for these talented people. By better bringing supply and demand together, we ensure that opportunities that exist can be better exploited. For everyone.”
In order to be able to properly help workers, job seekers and employers, it is necessary to work everywhere with personal work plans. It states which steps can be taken to find work or staff and what support is needed.
The elaboration of these principles builds on the experiences with the Regional Mobility Teams (RMTs). These teams help people who have lost or are at risk of losing their job, but they are also there for employers, self-employed persons or people with a distance to the labor market.
Education
Training is also of great importance when finding a new job or moving up in the current workplace. The cabinet recently made 1.2 billion euros available for training and strengthening the learning and development culture. In addition, the cabinet is now also working on a suitable and well-organized range of training courses, so that everyone can continue to develop.
All these principles will be further elaborated in the coming months. The House of Representatives will be informed about the progress in the spring of 2023. Until then, work will continue with existing initiatives. For example, the Regional Mobility Teams will be followed up next year and there will be funding for Learning Work Desks.