Employment agencies: The Netherlands can really use Ukrainians | financial
Otto CEO Frank van Gool says that Ukrainian refugees can supplement part of the Dutch labor market “in time”. This concerns work in construction, logistics and agriculture and horticulture. “They are slim and well-educated so we can put them to good use,” he says. “Dozens” of customers are also calling who would like to help the refugees find work, “because they want to do something”, says Van Gool.
At the moment Otto has no Ukrainian refugees working here. However, the company arranges shelter for families in that country for the approximately 3000 Ukrainians who work for Otto in Poland if necessary. Van Gool indicates that the current flow mainly consists of women and the elderly. Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country during the war. He also explains that European legislation for work permits especially for Ukrainian refugees is still being drafted.
Employment agency SprintWerkt, active in the logistics, food sector, production and greenhouse horticulture, among other things, says it is opening its doors “wide” to Ukrainians who want to work, owner Kumar Spaans says. At the moment, the employment agency is not yet arranging work for refugees who have fled as a result of the Russian invasion, because it is not yet clear whether they are allowed to work. he can also arrange direct housing for them.
The Ukrainians that NL Jobs has now helped find work “are people who have already come to the Netherlands on their own initiative,” says marketing and communications manager Brian Lexmond. He cannot say exactly how many people that is. The war “is coming into calmer waters”, the company, which already recruited personnel in Ukraine, wants to “actively campaign” there to bring people to the Netherlands. Of the more than 2300 people who work through NL Jobs, 62 now come from Ukraine.
SprintWerkt’s Spanish is also concerned about how uncertified employment agencies are starting to work with refugees. “These people may not know their rights yet. I hope that a lot of attention will be paid, especially in the meat sector.” In recent years there have been many abuses with migrant workers, according to Spaans.