Employers: 'More room for Poles'

Companies in the Leiden region are making the case for more housing for Eastern European labor migrants soon. The fact that municipalities are now doing too little in this area is at the expense of economic growth in the region. So says Dennis van der Voort of Taskforce for the Housing of Labor Migrants (THA).

"We notice that governments pay too little attention to this," explains the Lisserbroeker. According to him, municipalities even flatly deny the problem and often have the wrong image of working Eastern Europeans in the Netherlands. "I get shocked when politicians say it's only about seasonal workers. Then you've really missed a turn, I think."

Also in the city

He also wants to get rid of the commonly held idea that Poles and other migrant workers only work in rural areas. "Hotels, wholesalers, transport companies; they work everywhere. Also in Leiden."

According to Van der Voort, there are too few unemployed Dutch people who can help companies out. "The economy is picking up, companies want to grow and need workers to do so. They are there, but can't live in our area."

Labor Capital

He estimates the acute shortage of beds in the region at 1,500. Millions of dollars in labor capital are being lost as a result, Van der Voort believes.

"We have the solution in our pocket. Municipalities, help us find space for additional housing. We have the industry together with the task force. Only the government is still missing."