Employment of people with disabilities needs careful handling

The regulation to create 100,000 jobs for people with disabilities by 2026 in The Netherlands has created heated discussions.
According to ANP, the government plans for these jobs for disabled professionals who are unable to earn statutory minimum wage. However, employers and employees demand a broader definition, emphasising that it might be disadvantageous to highly educated professionals.

Last Monday, presidents of VNO-NCW and FNV, Hans de Boer and Ton Heerts, respectively, spoke at a sitting in De Tweede Kamer about the agreements Jetta Klijnsma, Secretary of the Sate (Social Affairs) has made with the social partners.

A majority of the parliament – VVD, PvdA, CDA and D66 rejected the suggestion immediately.
John Kerstens, member of the PvdA parliament felt that the number of jobs for people with disabiities must be raised if the target increases. Heerts emphasised that the FNV shares Kerstens’s point of view. Sjoerd Potters (VVD), Pieter Heermabrug (CDA) and Steven van Weyenberg (D66) are still skeptical.
If the agreed number of jobs is not reached, Klijnsma will compel companies to hire approximately five percent of  employees with disabilities. If the companies do not agree, they are likely to face a fine.
During the sitting, industry experts predicted that many entrepreneurs will “buy off” the quota – they would rather pay a fine than employ someone they cannot use.
Rugimia Tweed