Court of Audit calls for clearer integration goals to help refugees enter labor market

Recognized refugees are struggling to enter sectors facing labor shortages, the Dutch Court of Audit has found. Lengthy asylum procedures and compulsory language lessons make it difficult for them to find jobs or acquire the necessary qualifications. The Court recommends that the Ministry of Social Affairs define the goals of integration and create policies to achieve them.

The law, which has been in force since 2022, is seen by Court of Audit president Pieter Duisenberg as an improvement on its predecessor. Nevertheless, the Court describes the expectation that the law will meet its objectives as “wishful thinking.”

Status holders, recognized refugees permitted to live and work in the Netherlands, are required to integrate so they can fully participate in society. However, the process is becoming increasingly delayed, the Court of Audit reports. Bottlenecks in the asylum system slow the granting of status, and the start of integration, and finding housing also takes longer.

After settling in the Netherlands, status holders frequently struggle to find employment that allows them to learn Dutch. Among those who started integration three years ago, only about 30 percent have held a paid job. The Court of Audit notes that these positions are often low-paid, temporary, and below their qualification level. “The delivery person at your door was often a pediatrician in their home country,” Duisenberg remarked.

The Court of Audit recommends more comprehensive tracking of status holders’ education and work experience, which is currently recorded for only 27 percent. This lack of information makes it harder to match them with suitable jobs. Expanding the availability of language courses would also help, as many status holders must currently attend classes during the day, limiting their ability to work. The Court suggests promoting language training in the workplace as well.

The Court of Audit advises that the Ministry does not need to amend the law, as it is fundamentally effective. It also highlights that the current law performs better than its predecessor, offering, among other things, improved guidance from local municipalities.