Living and Working in The Netherlands Cindy Sijmonsma EURES adviser

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 Labour market

Working & Living in The Netherlands Results vacancy-survey 2007 ► 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 In the Netherlands there is need of : ► Health sector ► Construction workers, carpenters, masons ► Gardeners, agricultural and horticultural workers ► Cooks ► Electricians ► Welders, metal workers ► Warehouse co-worker ► BA and MA in ICT, Engineering and Marketing Dutch language skills depending on the profession, English or German is a must!

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 ► All kinds of work ► Often first period in a new permanent job ► 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 ► ► 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 ► Ask 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

Working & Living in The Netherlands Contracts ► Permanent labour contract ► Trial period 2 months ► Temporary (Fixed) labour contract ► >2 years: trial period 2 months ► <2 years: maximum trial period 1 month ► >3 years  permanent ► >3 in a row  permanent contract ► Contract with an agency More information at  Special in the Netherlands: dismissal laws!

Working & Living in The Netherlands Holidays ► 4 x number of work days a week ► 2 weeks in a row, rest upon agreement ► Only 6 bank holidays ► 8% of the annual salary extra, ► paid in May

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

Working & Living in The Netherlands Wages ► Legal minimum wage, depending on age 23 and older fixed minimum wage Monthly€1.356,60 Weekly€ 313, years old: lower percentage Indication of net wages ► 23 and older € 1160,- ► Income tax and social contributions ► Between 34 and 52%, depending on income ► If worked< 1 year, partly refund possible

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, ► Might not be given to other nationalities ► Child benefit, ► must be applied for

Working & Living in The Netherlands Living and Working – Registration  Obtain a BSN at tax office or municipality (Burgerservicenummer= fiscal number)  Bring necessary E-forms  Staying >3 months: register at the city administration  Check for addresses: taxeswww.belastingdienst.nl working in the Netherlands living&workinghttp://eures.europa.eu work permitswww.ind.nl

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 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”  Poldermodel: meetings  Work and home are different worlds  Every hour is planned, as well work as free time  Being in time is very important

Working & Living in The Netherlands  Hierarchy  Food habits  Traffic  Open curtains  Birthdays How to cope with: ‘The Dutchman’

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