THE HAGUE, 17/11/09 - The cabinet has decided to amend the Re-emigration Act. Subsidies for returning to the mother country will then only be available for first-generation immigrants without work and aged over 55.
"The social situation has changed since the re-emigration policy was introduced in 1985. The cabinet is concentrating more than previously on work, social participation and integration," the government stated.
The use of the law will be restricted to those on welfare benefit. The cabinet is also raising the age threshold to 55. Only re-emigrants above this age will receive a monthly payment after returning. "With the present age threshold in the law of 45 years, people are written off for the labour market too soon," the cabinet believes.
An application will also only be possible after a term of one year's employment instead of six months as at present. The travel and transport costs and the special financial bridging payment for the first two months in the 'old' country will be scrapped.
Additionally, different time-periods will obtain before a call can be made on the facilities of the act. "For a monthly basic benefit payment in the mother country, the term for legal residence in the Netherlands will go up from three to eight years. The increase to eight years is appropriate in view of the life-long duration of the payment."
The facilities for re-emigration will disappear for the second generation. "It is generally first-generation migrants that long to go to their country of origin after they land up in a situation without prospects. Those who have grown up and been to school here in general have more ties with the Netherlands and fewer ties with their parents' country of origin."
For EU nationals, too, eligibility will be restricted to the first generation of labour migrants. Talks are currently underway with the European Commission on this amendment.
In the period since 1985, 10,542 people have availed of the scheme. In the year 2008, a total of 1,011 persons departed with the assistance of the act, of which 672 were awarded a monthly benefit payment for the rest of their lives.
