On Wednesday, April 19, the first edition of the ArbeidsmarktPoort was scheduled in Nieuwspoort. The ArbeidsmarktPoort is an initiative of the Bovib (branch association for intermediaries and brokers), the VvDN (branch association for secondment companies) and ONL voor Ondernemers. The ArbeidsmarktPoort is a discussion and meeting platform where politicians, journalists, civil servants, industry associations, market parties and other stakeholders exchange views. As a member of the Bovib and cooperation partner of ONL for Entrepreneurs, HeadFirst Group has contributed to the creation of this Labor Market Gate. We welcome discussion and debate on issues and themes related to the labor market and find it important that the public-social debate is taken to a higher level.
The first Labor Market Gate was dominated by the Borstlap Commission report and the parliamentary letter from Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) on Monday, April 3. In this letter, the minister comes up with firm plans to reduce flexible labor. The Borstlap Commission report in January 2020 came with a number of recommendations and proposals to thoroughly reform the labor market to make it future-proof.
Hans Borstlap, former top official and former chairman of the committee, opened the first edition of Labor Market Gate. Borstlap shed light on Minister Van Gennip's plans, the lightning-fast developments in the labor market and his committee's previous recommendations. Borstlap is positive about the direction Van Gennip wants to take, but also strongly criticized the introduction of compulsory disability insurance and the Crisis Regulation Personnel Retention. In addition, he lacks ambitious and clear plans regarding the development of an individual learning account.
Hans Borstlap's speech was followed by a panel with Hilde Palland (Member of Parliament for the CDA), Ruben Houweling (Professor of Labor Law at Erasmus University and Crown Member of the SER) and Hans himself. The panel was led by Hugo-Jan Ruts, editor-in-chief of ZiPconomy. An interesting and substantive panel followed where various topics were discussed, such as the current tightness in the labor market, the growth of the number of self-employed people and a basic social system for all employed people, regardless of the form of contract. Interesting topics on which the last word has not yet been spoken.
HeadFirst Group supports the initiative of this ArbeidsmarktPoort and strongly supports a constructive, fundamental and factual debate on issues and challenges regarding the Dutch labor market. In the future, we will therefore certainly contribute to meetings and debate sessions. On Tuesday, October 24, the second edition of the Labor Market Gate is scheduled. Kim Putters, chairman of the Social and Economic Council and former director of the Social and Cultural Planning Office, will be present then and provide the opening. More information will follow.
If you have questions about the Labor Market Gate and our position in the labor market file, please contact Sem Overduin, Public Affairs Officer at HeadFirst Group. He can be reached at Sem.Overduin@headfirst.nl
