The construction of residential complexes for migrant workers often leads to protests from local residents. According to employers, these large buildings are urgently needed to accommodate the increasing number of foreign employees. “Migrant workers are indispensable to our economy. Then of course we also have to provide decent living space,” says Anne Deelen of VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland.
Earlier this week, protester Maureen van Hattum from Liempde expressed her concerns about the arrival of a residential complex near her. SBA Flex from Tilburg wants to accommodate 400 temporary workers from Central and Eastern Europe. “Our safety can no longer be guaranteed. With so many extra residents, there will be more nuisance. There is not enough enforcement and we are concerned about traffic congestion,” she said.
The protest in Liempde is not an isolated event. Local residents have made it clear that they are against many of these types of building plans. Just like recently in Riel. In 2019, threats even ended a migrant hotel in Sint Willebrord.
“We really need them.”
The resistance of local residents is at odds with the attitude of employers’ organization VNO-NCW. They would like to see large accommodations for foreign temporary workers. This has to do with the role of labor migrants in Brabant. In 2020, about 108,000 people worked in our province and that number is expected to rise to 150,000 in 2030.
“Brabant cannot do without it. They are essential for the economy,” says Anne Deelen of VNO-NCW. “The call from companies for more people is only increasing.”
It mainly plays in transport, distribution, agriculture and industry. Supplier of industrial equipment Eco Ketelservice in Tiilburg knows all about this. 5 of the 35 employees are migrant workers.
“We have been working with migrant workers for 20 years.”
“And we are still looking for 3 or 4 people,” says Natasja Leijser of the company. “We have been working with migrant workers for 20 years. The interpretation has changed over the years. At first people worked here who cleaned. But now we also employ people as mechanics. These are roles that we otherwise do not get filled here in the Netherlands .”
According to Leijser we should be happy with the foreign forces. “They bring part of the prosperity here in the Netherlands. You have to let them live well here.”
But does that have to be in ‘Poland hotels’, as those large-scale complexes are popularly called? According to Deelen of VNO-NCW, this is the best solution.
“Our economy depends on this group of people.”
“Otherwise they will end up in normal homes in neighborhoods. And then the housing shortage in the Netherlands will become even greater. We really don’t want that,” she says. Deelen points to the advantages of larger locations. “Then good supervision can be maintained. But facilities can also be built such as parking spaces or a private fitness room.”
As far as the employers’ organization is concerned, municipalities should certainly not turn their ears to demonstrating local residents, as in Liempde. Especially since the shortage of places to live for labor migrants is increasing year after year.
Deelen: “Talk to them and try to explain why it is so important that migrant workers are here. If we didn’t have them, we would have serious problems. The shelves in shops would become empty. Our economy depends on this group people.”
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