Learn Dutch or face a cut in benifits: bill set for debate

People refusing to learn Dutch and who are receiving welfare can risk a reduction of their benefits, if it is up the Cabinet. To start off, 20 percent of their benefits will be retained, and if they still fail to speak the language after one year this could become 40 percent. Who, after a year still did not manage to learn Dutch will lose all their benefits. This bill, proposed by State Secretary Klijnsma will probably be discussed today in the council of ministers. She sent the bill to the council of State in April to be reviewed, which has now been studied. The measures were announced in the coalition agreement and will commence next year.