Support Towards Employment for People Distanced from the Labor Market
The government is structurally allocating €4 million for people who are distanced from the labor market on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This gives this group the assurance that they can continue to receive support in the future when it comes to finding suitable work—ideally with a regular employer, or otherwise in an adapted workplace.
“Everyone has talents. And everyone who is able to should have the opportunity to participate in the labor market,” said State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Participation and Integration). “That’s why I think it’s an important step forward that structural funding is now being made available for jobseekers on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba who need a helping hand. With extra guidance, they can take an active role in society and make use of their talents.”
For quite some time, the public entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba have been working with local implementers and employers to support people who are distanced from the labor market, both in finding and keeping a job. They use a variety of tools to do this. Adapted work is available for people who need an adapted working environment. Wage cost subsidies encourage employers to hire people with a distance to the labor market. Job coaches provide personal guidance in the workplace.
In recent years, the government has repeatedly made temporary funding available for these measures. With this new decision, structural funding is now in place. As a result, people with a distance to the labor market in the Caribbean Netherlands will have more opportunities—now and in the future—to find paid work. With this measure, the government is following the advice of the Committee Social Minimum Caribbean Netherlands.