Housing initiative proposal presented
"Equal treatment of Dutch workers and labor migrants is paramount." Nico Geerlings is pleased with the initiative proposal that the VVD in the municipality of Hollands Kroon has presented in order to act more decisively in the field of housing. To facilitate more lodging accommodation and faster registration of the migrant in the municipal administration. "A proposal that benefits all parties and stakeholders and that counteracts undesirable situations. And a good example of fruitful cooperation between employers, temporary employment agencies and municipalities."
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VVD wants labor migrants and Dutch workers to be treated equally
By Editors on March 03, 2018
The VVD believes that labor migrants and Dutch workers should be treated equally. That starts with rapid registration, also in terms of housing and taxes. An initiative proposal was presented today to entrepreneurs Nico Geerligs (Flexible Human Services) and Jaap Noordam (Red Harvest). The VVD believes that Hollands Kroon must be more decisive. Without sufficient good places, labor migrants end up in places where you don't want them.
If companies in Hollands Kroon want to capitalize on their growth prospects, they must have sufficient employees at their disposal. Because our own working population is shrinking, many labor migrants are needed. But they only come if their housing is arranged. That doesn't happen without a struggle. That is why the VVD is now coming up with an initiative proposal to regulate this properly. There is a major economic interest served by this.
The VVD plan cuts both ways. It is based on facilitating more lodging accommodations at agricultural companies or on industrial sites and faster registration of the migrant in our municipal administration. The migrant may use lodging accommodation for a maximum of one year. At the same time, they get access to the list of people looking for housing. They may be able to live in smaller lodging locations in villages in the meantime.
The essence of the plan is to better respond to the people who want to stay here for many years by taking a different approach to labor migrants. They must have the same rights and obligations as their Dutch colleagues. When it comes to salaries, payroll taxes, vehicle taxes, insurance and their place on the list of people looking for housing. To achieve this, they must be better registered.
Register
Registering in the municipal basic administration is quite a hassle. But in the municipality of Westland it has become clear that registering labor migrants goes better if it is organized more smartly. In Westland, the process has been simplified so that it takes thirty seconds per person instead of half an hour.
The crux is that all documents are prepared not by the municipal official, but by the employer. They submit the ready-made sets of forms for registration and IDs to the municipality, where a final check takes place. A second check is when signing.
To actually register the labor migrants, a meeting is organized once a month. Dozens of people come there at the same time. To sign their name, but also to see an informative film about how it works in the Netherlands or Hollands Kroon. What is and is not expected of you. What we consider normal in this country, and what not.
Employers and temporary employment agencies in Westland are enthusiastic. The municipality of Westland is also enthusiastic, because the employers receive authorization from their employees to inform the municipality when they leave. This is how the municipality of Westland keeps its files in order. And there is also a reliable picture when it comes to the demographic structure of the population in Westland.
The latter is important for the allocation of housing quotas by the province, but also for the granting of permits for the development of lodging accommodations. The VVD believes that Hollands Kroon must be more decisive on this point. Without sufficient good places, labor migrants end up in places where you don't want them. This causes nuisance.
Advantages
The effects of this approach are beneficial in several respects. Our number of residents grows as more labor migrants are registered. This supports our position in the negotiation with the province about the quotas that the municipality receives. That has also had results in Westland. With more residents, Hollands Kroon receives a higher amount from the Municipal Fund. Which makes sense, because labor migrants are fully involved in our society.
And finally, the municipality can escape the status of a municipality where shrinkage is looming. It is also beneficial for employers. If the quota of homes grows and more lodging accommodations are available, they can contract labor migrants better so that the continuity of their company is not endangered.
It's easy to imagine the effects on the local economy when the population grows due to the arrival of young adults and couples with children.
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is taking the idea with them in any potential coalition negotiations.