EURopean Employment Services Living and Working in the Netherlands Frans Buter, Nicosia, November 2013

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 2 THIS PRESENTATION EURES in the Netherlands How to cope with “The Dutch” Something about The country, The Dutch labour market Looking for jobs Wages, social security, tax etc. What do we need?

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 3 Position of EURES EURES is part of UWV WERKbedrijf, the Public Employment Service Just like in Cyprus EURES is part of the employment service in the Netherlands All Public Employment Services in EU, EEC and Switzerland work together in EURES

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 4 How to cope with: ‘The Dutch’

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 5 ‘The Dutch’ Rudeness or “being open and direct”? Dutch always seem to “know better” Very individual, except …

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 6 ‘The Dutchman’ Every hour is planned, work as well as free time Being in time is very important Agreed is agreed Work and home are different worlds “Poldermodel” Meetings

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 7 ‘The Dutchman’ Hate hierarchy Food habits Traffic Open curtains Birthday

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 8 Some figures about THE NETHERLANDS Km² 26% below sea level Lowest point: m Highest: + 322,7m Population density: 485 km² Cyprus: 125 per km² Randstad 1000 per km² Roman Catholic: 27% Protestant: 16,6% Not religious: 48,4%

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 9 LABOUR MARKET Some figures about: unemployment jobs vacancies

The current situation 8.7 % unemployment ( ); ( people). Youth: 15% Old news: 2007: 1 vacancy for each person fired within the last 6 months. 2013: 1 vacancy for 10 persons

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 11 UNEMPLOYMENT

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 12 VACANCY-SURVEY 2011 Temporary work sometimes with a view on a permanent job is most current procedure Reason is the strong position of workers with a permanent contract Elementary educated more often unemployed Number of medium skilled and educated unemployed higher than before the economical crisis Highly educated have more chances

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 13 HOW TO FIND A JOB? Public Employment Service / UWV WERKbedrijf > Temporary Work Agencies Personal contacts Newspapers > Volkskrant/ Telegraaf Internet Speculative applications  common and successful KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH IS IMPORTANT! START LEARNING DUTCH

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 14 Surplus on Job seekers in general Semi- and low educated or skilled Laboratory workers Tailors Fork lift drivers General workers Graphic workers High and semi educated Laboratory workers Secretaries/ administrative workers Stewardesses Heads of technical departments Heads of hospitality companies Sports instructors Graphic designers Librarians Culture and arts

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 15 WHAT DO WE NEED (1): Electric and electronic fitters Mechanical engineers Agriculture (engineers as well as seasonal labourers) Catering managers ICT Marine officers and engineers

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 16 WHAT DO WE NEED (2): On the long term: Teachers (language teachers, mathematics, all teaching jobs Major shortages are expected due to aging of the working population and far to little teaching students. Health care (nurses) However less opportunities for Commercial employees Social and cultural field / science Lower and medium administrative employees/ receptionists Elementary skilled technical staff with basic skills only

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 17 TEMPORARY WORK AGENCIES “Uitzendbureau” (temp agency) Widespread in the Netherlands Often first step to a new permanent job How to register? CV Sofi (social fiscal) number Bank account Job seekers don’t pay, employers do

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 18 CONTRACTS 1 Permanent labour contract Trial period 2 months Temporary labour contract Trial period depending on the length of the contract but usually 1 month Contract with an agency More information at  Living and Working in the Netherlands

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 19 CONTRACTS 2 CAO Collective Labour Agreement For different sectors of industry Applicable to all workers in the sector or company Temporary work agencies follow this agreement Individual agreement

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 20 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

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 21 WAGES Legal minimum wage, depending on age 23 and older fixed minimum wage Monthly€1.485,65 per 1/ Weekly€ 342, years old: lower percentage Indication of net wages 23 and older € 1246,-

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 22 COST OF LIVING AN IMPRESSION A rather expensive country compared to most other EU countries Meals (home cooked):average of €6 euro p.p.p.d Water: average €8,50 p m Gas: between €61 – €100 p m Electricity: €30 p.p.p.m. Rent: €750 average, per m 2 €14,-- - Amsterdam €1132, per m 2 18,-- - Tilburg €502 Litre of petrol:€??? Changes every day, at this moment €1,74 Cinema ticket: €9.00 Short bus ride: €2.00 Marlboro cigarettes:€ course menu: €30.00 Bread:€1.80 Cup of coffee:€2.00 Glass of beer: €2.20 Chips with snack:€4.00

What to do after you arrived Health insurance (obligatory) Find Accommodation (High rent 750€) Register at the municipality Apply for BSN (Civil Service Number) After 3 months: residence permit

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 24 USEFULL WEBSITES (working in the Netherlands) (living & working info) (residence permits) taxes (general information)

EURES in the NetherlandsPAG 25 QUESTIONS? Please visit our stand!