Youth care institutions and employees struck on Tuesday at the Malieveld in The Hague, because they do not agree with the reforms in youth care. “We hope it is clear that we are very persistent and not giving up.”
That is what Frans Claessens of FNV Zorg says on L1 Radio on Tuesday.
Cuts
He is one of the youth care workers who sat down with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Association of Dutch Municipalities to discuss the reforms. Like his four other colleagues, he resigned from that meeting. “The Hague had determined that cutbacks had already been booked in advance in the reforms. The ministry wanted those cuts to take precedence over the content in any case,” is Claessens’ experience.
a lot of outflow
According to the youth care worker, the need is high. “Youth care workers, children, parents and young people are no longer seen by the government or by all the systems behind it. The water has been on the lips for years.” According to him, there is a lot of outflow of employees. “Young children and parents no longer receive appropriate care. And you see that the bureaucracy or people who deal with systems only grow and increase.”
seen and heard
The fact that the sector is now going on strike is significant, according to Claessens. “We first struck five years ago. Now for the second time. It is unprecedented for youth care to strike.” But he, like the other expected thousands of strikers, believes they need to be seen and heard. “The moment we are heard, there is a much greater chance that children, young people and parents will also be seen and heard in their question.”
The youth protector believes that the money that the central government gives to municipalities should be earmarked. “That the money really ends up with youth care.” And as soon as there is attention again for those who need the help and who provide the help, he does not expect costs to increase, but rather that it will become cheaper. “That’s the iconic thing about it.”