Municipalities start integration of refugees earlier, but often still too late

Municipalities are increasingly succeeding in starting the integration process of refugees with residency status on time, but they are still often too late, wrote the caretaker minister for social affairs and employment, Karien van Gennip, in a letter to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. Municipalities give many reasons for the delay, including a shortage of teachers, and that it can sometimes be difficult to keep contact with newcomers.

Since the new Civic Integration Act came into effect in 2022, municipalities are jointly responsible for integration. Before that, newcomers had to arrange much of this on their own, which led to problems. But the introduction of the new law has been anything but smooth.

The idea is that municipalities will draw up a personal plan with a refugee within 10 weeks of getting residency. Their Integration and Participation Plan (PIP) is often created after the deadline.

Out of those granted residency since January this year, 37 percent were helped within ten weeks. That is an improvement compared to the group from March 2022, when 12 percent had a personalized integration plan within the agreed time.

"I am pleased that the figures are showing a positive development," said Van Gennip. "But this development must continue." She is discussing this with municipalities and is working on plans to speed up integration.

The minister wants municipalities to receive more contact details from the newcomers and to see whether this conflicts with privacy legislation. She also said she wants to ensure that the assessment of foreign diplomas happens faster.

In addition, she is looking for ways to address the teacher shortage. For example, the minister is considering offering more online courses.