Tiel faces growing issue of homeless migrant workers: politicians urge action
The city of Tiel is grappling with a rising problem of homeless migrant workers causing disturbances in the city center. Many of these workers, primarily from Eastern Europe, become homeless after losing their jobs, as reported by Omroep Gelderland. The loss of employment often leads to addiction issues, criminal behavior, and disruptions to public order, the newspaper writes. Tiel's local government is taking action, seeking support from national authorities.
Remco Dijkstra, the alderman of Tiel, has sent an urgent letter to the Dutch national government, calling for stricter regulations on temporary employment agencies. "Too many agencies are exploiting people and providing inadequate housing," Dijkstra said.
Tiel, with a population of about 40,000, has an estimated 4,000 migrant workers. Of the approximately 100 homeless individuals in Tiel, more than half are migrant workers. "Homeless migrant workers are wandering the streets, going to coffee shops or drinking cheap beer. Some even sleep in the floodplains of the Waal. This is something we should not accept," Dijkstra added.
The issue has sparked concern among other local and national leaders. Mariëtte Patijn, a member of the Tweede Kamer (PvdA-GL), has been working for years to improve labor conditions for Eastern European migrant workers. "The fraudulent employment agencies are a significant part of the problem. When people lose their jobs, they lose everything and end up on the streets," Patijn said.
Recent changes to labor agreements for temporary workers have offered some improvements. For example, workers who are dismissed are legally allowed to stay in their housing for two weeks after losing their jobs. "Ideally, we would like to see migrant workers hired directly by employers, so they receive the same protections as Dutch workers," Patijn added.
The non-profit organization Stichting Barka, which assists Eastern European homeless people in Gelderland, has been working overtime to address the growing issue. "Our consultations in Tiel are very busy, and the number of people seeking help keeps growing," Ania Mikielewicz, a social worker with the organization, told Omroep Gelderland.
"It’s true that action must be taken against the bad temporary agencies. But we also need to provide better and more honest information about what people can expect when they come to the Netherlands. What we see is that people come with different expectations and quickly end up on the streets," Mikielewicz added.
