FNV presents plan for poverty reduction: “Poverty is punished in the Netherlands”
The union presented the plan on Sunday afternoon in the Der Aa church. Photo: Chris Bakker
In the Der Aa church in Groningen, the trade union FNV has a plan on Sunday on World Poverty Day to also tackle poverty in municipal policy.
“A dignified life must be affordable for everyone, but we are far from there in the Netherlands,” says Vice-President Kitty Jong of FNV. “And that we are among the richest countries in the world.” The FNV wants municipalities, which are themselves responsible for the poverty policy in their municipality, to apply the points from the plan in the municipal agreement after the municipal elections of March 2022.
Local government has an important role
“Poverty is punished in the Netherlands, we tackle the causes. People have a right to livelihood.” The FNV that the local government has an important role in fighting poverty. Among other things, the union wants people who have to live on less than 150 percent of the Statutory Social Minimum not to pay municipal taxes. They must also be able to make use of provisions such as special assistance for medical costs. “By raising that limit, which in many municipalities is now 110 to 130 percent of the Statutory Social Minimum, more people can keep their heads above water. That also applies to the planned work for the poor.”
Menstrual Poverty
Recently, the union, together with other parties, launched the menstrual poverty manifesto, as part of the local poverty policy. “Menstrual poverty is a growing problem. One in ten girls and women does not have enough money to buy menstrual products and misses an example in school.”
National government
Sunday also calls on the national government to actively fight poverty. Here, the minimum wage must increase from 10 euros to 14 euros gross per hour. The link between the state pension and the minimum wage must be maintained. The FNV also wants to abolish the cost-sharing standard so that housing costs become affordable again.