THE HAGUE, 02/11/06 - Economic Affairs Minister Joop Wijn is not impressed by immigrants' complaints that companies reject them in job applications based on their names. Education and work experience carry much more weight than sex or ethnic background, it emerges from a survey Wijn presented yesterday.

The survey by research bureau SEO, commissioned by Wijn, says employers consider it most important that an applicant has a command of the language. It does not matter, according to the researchers, if people speak with an accent, providing candidates can express themselves well in Dutch. Additionally, many applicants underestimate the importance of not arriving late or wearing shabby clothes or caps. It is also important for companies that people do not slump in their chairs or appear uninterested in other ways.

The Christian democratic (CDA) minister says the research shows the most important thing for companies is "that you complete your schooling, and not where your parents are born." The report endorses the fact that language courses can contribute more to the willingness of companies to take on immigrants than fiscal incentives, according to Wijn.

The minister concluded from the research that "discrimination on the labour market" occurs "rarely or never." The public apparently agrees. Among listeners to radio programme Standpunt, responding yesterday to the statement 'Discrimination against immigrants is exaggerated," 65 percent agreed and the rest disagreed.

Mayor Guusje ter Horst of Nijmegen (PvdA) yesterday questioned the reliability of the SEO research on Radio 1 Journaal. Her municipality recently began a project with anonymous applicants. An Arab name wrongly frightens employers off, according to Ter Horst.