THE HAGUE, 10/09/03 - The cabinet is to deal more stringently with unemployed immigrants living in the Netherlands for years who cannot speak any Dutch. Unsuccessfully finishing an integration course will lead to docking of their benefit payments, sources close to the government say.

Immigrants who came to the Netherlands after 1997 are required to take an integration course. The cabinet however wants 'older' immigrants to follow the language and culture lessons as well if they have no work because of their language problem. If they do not pass the course, their benefits payment will be cut, applying to unemployment (WW), disability (WAO) and basic benefit, the sources said.

Hitherto, the integration courses for immigrants who have been in the Netherlands since before 1998 were voluntary. All immigrants will in future have to see for themselves how they can acquire their knowledge. If they pass the test, they can recover part of the costs they may have incurred for the course.