Living and Working in The Netherlands Cindy Sijmonsma Ria Bosch EURES advisers

Living and Working in The Netherlands

Cindy SijmonsmaRia BoschEURES advisers

Working & Living in The Netherlands

This Presentation

► The Netherlands

► The labour market

► Looking for jobs

► Wages, social security, tax

► “the Dutchmen”

► Who does the Netherlands need?

► What do you need?


The Netherlands?

►Windmills,

►Tulips

►Wooden shoes

►Cheese and milk

►The Polder model

►Soft drugs

►The struggle against

the sea


The Netherlands

• 41.526 Km2

26% below sea level

• Randstad 1000 per km2

• The Hague 5762 per km2 !

•Average density of population:

485 per km2


The North

► Working population 751.000

= 10%

► Unemployment rate of 5,5%

► Rural

► Tourism

► Education (University and higher

professional education in Leeuwarden

and Groningen)

► Transport

► Retail


The East

► Working population

1.441.000 = 19%

► Unemployment rate of 4,1 %

► Rural

► Administration

► Tourism

► Education (Technical University Enschede

Agricultural university Wageningen)

► Transport

► Retail

► Care


The South► Working population 1.772.000 =

23%

► Unemployment rate of 3,7 %

► Rural

► Industry in Brabant

► Administration

► Construction

► Tourism

► Education (Maastricht)

► Transport

► Retail

► Care


The West (Randstad)► Working population

3.596.000 = 48%

► Unemployment rate of

5,0 %

► Highly industrialized

► Harbors, Airports

► Highest number of jobs

► Education (Amsterdam, Rotterdam,

Utrecht, Leiden, Delft)

► Urban agglomeration

► Go West!


Political structure

► Constitutional monarchy

► Two chambers in Parliament

► Many political parties

► Elections every 4 year

► Three levels:► National – Provincial – Local


Labour market

Some figures about:

► unemployment

► jobs

► vacancies


Development unemployment (CWI) in The Netherlands

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

800000

jan-

02

apr-0

2ju

l-02

okt-0

2

jan-

03

apr-0

3ju

l-03

okt-0

3

jan-

04

apr-0

4ju

l-04

okt-0

4

jan-

05

apr-0

5ju

l-05

okt-0

5

jan-

06

apr-0

6ju

l-06

okt-0

6

jan-

07

apr-0

7ju

l-07

okt-0

7


Unemployment in The Netherlands

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

800000

1-1-

1998

1-1-

2002

1-1-

2003

1-10

-200

3

1-4-

2004

1-10

-200

4

1-4-

2005

1-10

-200

5

1-4-

2006

1-10

-200

6

1-4-

2007

1-10

-200

7

<23 jaar Total


Unemployment in % in The Netherlands

6,1%

5,2%

4,0%

0,0%

1,0%

2,0%

3,0%

4,0%

5,0%

6,0%

7,0%

aug-okt 05 aug-okt 06 aug-okt 07


Unemployed: by age-group (okt 2007)

15-24 year6%

25-34 year16%

35-44 year26%45-54 year

27%

55-64 year25%


Vacancies in The Netherlands (x 1.000) (Bron: CBS)

0

50

100

150

200

250

I II III IVI II III IVI II III IVI II III IVI II III IVI II III IVI II III IVI II III

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007


Prognosis growth of jobs (x1.000)

-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Agriculture and fisheries

Industry

Construction

Retail

Trade

Hotel/Catering

Transport and telecom

Finance/Treasury

ICT and Business services

Public services

Education and Sciences

Healthcare

Tourism

thousands2007 2008


Results vacancy-survey 2006

► High age forms obstruction in finding a job (55+ 1%)

► Push out elementary educated

► Temporarily work with a view on a permanent job is most

current procedure

► Market-coverage CWI: 25% (+25% Temporary Employment Agencies)

► 30% filled vacancies by unemployed persons

► 28% was difficult to fill, but in the end was filled


SEARCHING JOBS


Looking for jobs in the Netherlands

How did we look for jobs in 2007 How did we find jobs in 2007

20

19

19

16

16

10 I nternet

Adds

Contacts

PES

Spontanious

Temps/ recruitment agencies

20

24

19

10

11

13


How to find a job?

► Public Employment Service /CWI =

Centre for Work and Income > www.werk.nl

► Temporary Work Agencies

► Personal contacts

► Newspapers > Volkskrant/ Telegraaf

► Internet

► Speculative applications common and successful


Temporary work agencies

“Uitzendbureau”► Widespread in the Netherlands

► Often first period in a new permanent job

► Special Legislation

► How to register?► CV► BSN number► Bank account► Job seekers don’t pay, employers do


How to apply to a job

► Telephone

► Letter of motivation accompanied by CV

► E-mail

► Invited for an interview?► Check culture company► Visit the company site

► Application methods:

blue collar jobs: less formal, telephone

white collar jobs: more formal, written


Letter and CV

► Letter:► Not more than one A4► Sell yourself► How can I be of service to the company► Make sure to be invited for a personal interview

► CV:► One/two A4► Personal data► Education► Experience► Hobbies?

► Both letter and CV adjusted to the company/job


Contracts

► Permanent labour contract► Trial period 2 months

► Temporary labour contract► Trial period depending on the length of the contract

► Contract with an agency

► More information at www.werk.nl

Living and Working in the Netherlands

Special in the Netherlands: dismissal laws!


Wages

► Legal minimum wage► Depending on age

– 15-22 years old: lower percentage– 23 and up: fixed minimum wage

€ 1335 gross/month (01-01-08)

► CAO Collective Labour Agreement► For different sectors of industry► Counts for all workers in the company and

temporary work agencies also follow this agreement

► Individual agreement


Percentages minimum wage

Gross minimum wages as from Jan 1st 2008

For an employee of 23 or older minimum wages,

if working fulltime: ► Monthly € 1.335,00► Weekly € 308,10► Per day € 61,62

►Indication of net wages ► 23 or older 1129,-► 22 975,-► 21 846,-► 20 732,-► 19 640,-► 18 568,-

Wages youth employees

► age % of minimum wages► 22 85% 1.134,75 21

72.5% 967,90 ► 20 61.5% 821,05► 19 52.5% 700,90► 18 45.5% 607,45► 17 39.5% 527,35 ► 16 34.5% 460,60 ► 15 30% 400,50


Income Taxes and contributions

► 34,40% over € 0.0 – € 17.319

► 41,95% over € 17.319 - € 31.122

► 42 % over € 31.122 - € 53.064

► 52 % over € 53.064


Social Security

► Old age pension► 2% per annum worked in the Netherlands

► Health insurance► Register with a Dutch health insurer

► Unemployment benefits

► Sickness insurance

► Social allowance

► Child benefit


‘The Dutchman’ (doesn’t exist)


16 million people (1)

►1000 opinions

►All together,

still individual

►Self control,

unless…We win!!!!



►No uniform is sacred

►A son calls his father

Pete

►No safety for a bike



►Protest groups

►No bosses?

►Curtains always open



►Tolerance except…For the neighbour

►Talking about money?

►Taking care of all,

social security

►Food habits


In the Netherlands there is need of :

► Construction workers, carpenters, masons

► Gardeners, agricultural and horticultural workers

► Truck drivers

► Cooks

► Electricians

► Welders, metal workers

► Warehouse co-worker

► BA and MA in ICT, Engineering and Marketing

Needed: Moderate grasp of Dutch depending on the

profession, English or German is a must!


Living and Working – Registration► Obtain a BSN at tax office

(Burgerservicenummer= fiscal number)

► Staying over 3 months: register at the city

administration

Check for addresses:

► www.belastingdienst.nl taxes

► www.werk.nl working in the Netherlands

► http://eures.europa.eu living&working

► www.ind.nl work permits


Recognition of diplomas

► IDW- Evaluation of Foreign Credentials

www.idw.nl

► Higher Education: www.nuffic.nl

► Vocational training: www.colo.nl

► Health sector : www.ribiz.nl

► More information at: http://eures.europa.eu


How to find accommodation?

► Rent and buy► Private agencies► Public organisations (Woningcorporaties)

– Need for registration– System of ‘points’/urgency declaration

► Rental of furnished houses: – Often for 3 years– Quite expensive – Only via private agencies

► Cities countryside– In cities: rare and expensive– Countryside: easier to find and cheaper


What you need

► Bring relevant E formse.g. E301, E303, E111

► Bring relevant personal documentation

► Seek pre-departure advice from EURES

► Discuss any queries relating to your contract

or employment directly with your new

employer


Questions?

Thank you very much for your attention!

Documents

Living and Working in The Netherlands Cindy Sijmonsma Ria Bosch EURES advisers