Living and Working in The Netherlands Ria Bosch EURES adviser

Working & Living in The Netherlands This Presentation ► The Netherlands ► The labour market ► Looking for jobs ► Wages, social security, tax ► “the Dutchmen” ► Who do the Netherlands need? ► What do you need?

Working & Living in The Netherlands The Netherlands Km 2 26% below sea level Randstad 1000 per km 2 The Hague 5762 per km 2 ! Average density of population: 485 per km 2

Working & Living in The Netherlands The North ► Working population = 10% ► Unemployment rate of 5,5% ► Rural ► Tourism ► Education ( University and higher professional education in Leeuwarden and Groningen ) ► Transport ► Retail

Working & Living in The Netherlands The East ► Working population = 19% ► Unemployment rate of 4,1 % ► Rural ► Administration ► Tourism ► Education (Technical University Enschede Agricultural university Wageningen) ► Transport ► Retail ► Care

Working & Living in The Netherlands The South ► Working population = 23% ► Unemployment rate of 3,7 % ► Rural ► Industry in Brabant ► Administration ► Construction ► Tourism ► Education (Maastricht) ► Transport ► Retail ► Care

Working & Living in The Netherlands The West (Randstad) ► Working population = 48% ► Unemployment rate of 5,0 % ► Highly industrialized ► Harbors, Airports ► Highest number of jobs ► Education (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft) ► Urban agglomeration ► Go West!

Working & Living in The Netherlands Labour market Some figures about: ► unemployment ► jobs ► vacancies

Working & Living in The Netherlands

Results vacancy-survey 2006 ► High age is obstruction in finding a job (55+  1%) ► Elementary educated often unemployed ► Temporarily work with a view on a permanent job is most current procedure

Working & Living in The Netherlands Looking for jobs in the Netherlands How did we look for jobs in 2007 How did we find jobs in 2007

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to find a job? ► Public Employment Service /CWI = Centre for Work and Income > ► Temporary Work Agencies ► Personal contacts ► Newspapers > Volkskrant/ Telegraaf ► Internet ► Speculative applications  common and successful

Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to apply to a job ► Telephone ► Letter of motivation accompanied by CV ► ► 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

Working & Living in The Netherlands Letter of motivation ► Adjusted to the company and the vacancy ► Not more than one A4 ► Sell yourself ► How can you be of service to the company ► Make sure to be invited for a personal interview

Working & Living in The Netherlands Curriculum Vitae ► One/two A4 ► Personal data ► Education ► Experience ► Hobbies? ► Adjusted to the company/job ► Look at the example on the EURES website ► Europass.hu

Working & Living in The Netherlands 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  Living and Working in the Netherlands ► Special in the Netherlands: dismissal laws!

Working & Living in The Netherlands Wages ► CAO Collective Labour Agreement ► For different sectors of industry ► Counts for all workers in the company ► Temporary work agencies follow this agreement ► Individual agreement

Working & Living in The Netherlands Minimum Wage ► Legal minimum wage, depending on age – 23 and up: fixed minimum wage Monthly €1.335,00 Weekly€ 308,10 Per day€ 61,62 – years old: lower percentage ► Indication of net wages ► 23 or older1129,- ► ,- ► ,- ► ,- ► ,- ► ,-

Working & Living in The Netherlands Income Taxes and contributions ► 34,40%over € 0.0 –€ ► 41,95%over € € ► 42 %over € € ► 52 %over €

Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to cope with: ‘The Dutchman’

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to cope with: ‘The Dutchman’  Rudeness or “being open and direct”?  Dutch always seem to “know better”  Every hour is planned, as well work as free time  Being in time is very important  Agreed is agreed

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to cope with: ‘The Dutchman’ ► Work and home are different worlds ► Hierarchy ► Food habits ► Traffic ► Birthdays

Working & Living in The Netherlands 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!

Working & Living in The Netherlands 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: ► taxeswww.belastingdienst.nl ► working in the Netherlandswww.werk.nl ► living&workinghttp://eures.europa.eu ► work permitswww.ind.nl

Working & Living in The Netherlands Recognition of diplomas ► IDW- Evaluation of Foreign Credentials ► Higher Education:  ► Vocational training:  ► Health sector :  ► More information at: 

Working & Living in The Netherlands How to find accommodation? ► Seasonal work: ► The employer must provide accommodation ► Regular jobs: ► Rent and buy – Private agencies – Public organisations (Woningcorporaties) ► Rental of furnished houses ► Cities countryside

Working & Living in The Netherlands What you need ► Bring relevant E forms e.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

Working & Living in The Netherlands Questions? Thank you very much for your attention!