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

3. 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?

4. Working & Living in The Netherlands The Netherlands? ► Windmills, ► Tulips ► Wooden shoes ► Cheese and milk ► The Polder model ► Soft drugs ► The struggle against the sea

5. Working & Living in The Netherlands The Netherlands 41.526 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

6. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

7. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

8. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

9. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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!

10. Working & Living in The Netherlands Political structure ► Constitutional monarchy ► Two chambers in Parliament ► Many political parties ► Elections every 4 year ► Three levels: ► National – Provincial – Local

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

12. Working & Living in The Netherlands

15. Unemployed: by age-group (okt 2007)

16. Working & Living in The Netherlands

17. Prognosis growth of jobs (x1.000)

18. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

19. Working & Living in The Netherlands SEARCHING JOBS

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

24. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

25. 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 www.werk.nlwww.werk.nl  Living and Working in the Netherlands Special in the Netherlands: dismissal laws!

26. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

27. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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 older1129,- ► 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

28. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

29. 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

30. Working & Living in The Netherlands ‘The Dutchman’ (doesn’t exist)

31. Working & Living in The Netherlands 16 million people (1) ► 1000 opinions ► All together, still individual ► Self control, unless… We win!!!!

32. Working & Living in The Netherlands 16 million people (2) ► No uniform is sacred ► A son calls his father Pete ► No safety for a bike

33. Working & Living in The Netherlands 16 million people (3) ► Protest groups ► No bosses? ► Curtains always open

34. Working & Living in The Netherlands 16 million people (4) ► Tolerance except… For the neighbour ► Talking about money? ► Taking care of all, social security ► Food habits

35. 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!

36. 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: ► www.belastingdienst.nl taxeswww.belastingdienst.nl ► www.werk.nl working in the Netherlandswww.werk.nl ► http://eures.europa.eu living&workinghttp://eures.europa.eu ► www.ind.nl work permitswww.ind.nl

37. Working & Living in The Netherlands Recognition of diplomas ► IDW- Evaluation of Foreign Credentials www.idw.nl www.idw.nl ► Higher Education:  www.nuffic.nlwww.nuffic.nl ► Vocational training:  www.colo.nlwww.colo.nl ► Health sector :  www.ribiz.nlwww.ribiz.nl ► More information at:  http://eures.europa.euhttp://eures.europa.eu

38. Working & Living in The Netherlands 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

39. 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

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