Councils not cutting benefits for poor Dutch language skills

1 week, 5 days ago

Severe shortage of public assistance lawyers leaves many Dutch without legal aid

NL Times

The availability of social welfare lawyers and other subsidized legal assistance in the Netherlands varies widely by region, with some areas facing severe shortages, investigative journalism outlet Investico reported on Thursday. The number of public assistance lawyers—specialists who assist citizens in disputes with government agencies—has plummeted by more than half nationwide between 2019 and 2023, according to research by Platform …

Social Dutch Legal Aid Legal Assistance Lawyers Public Aid

1 month ago

Strict self-employment rules hitting tax office in freelancers hired for benefits scandal

NL Times

The Dutch Tax Authority's benefits division faces a major setback in resolving the childcare benefits scandal. Despite being aware of the issue, the government had previously decided to keep the freelancers on staff, arguing that it was an "exceptional situation" requiring urgent action to compensate victims of the benefits scandal. However, the Dutch Tax Authority has now acknowledged that covering …

Benefits Tax Freelancers Benefits Scandal

1 month, 3 weeks ago

Complicated and costly disability benefit to be reformed

Dutch News

Social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum on Tuesday kicked off the process for reforming complicated and expensive Dutch disability legislation, citing the need to simplify the law. Last year it emerged that thousands of disability benefit claimants may have had too much or too little money for years, because of the complexity of the rules. That would enable doctors to …

Disability Benefit

2 months ago

Netherlands must do more against "structural" racism in gov't services: State Committee

NL Times

The Dutch government must do more to combat racism and discrimination in public services, the State Commission against Discrimination and Racism said in its second advice to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament. “Discrimination is not an incident, but a structural problem within the government,” concluded the State Commission, established …

Dutch Discrimination Racism State Commission

8 months ago

Language barrier hinders education of migrant workers’ children in Erode government school

The Hindu

Language has turned into a barrier for learning for 45 children of inter-State migrant workers, who were recently admitted to the Government High School at Mukasipidariyur in Chennimalai block in Erode as they could not write in Tamil or English. A Sathyamangalam based NGO, Rights Education and Development Centre, involved in children’s development and women’s empowerment, has identified 32 children …

Children School Workers Migrant Workers Tamil Erode

10 months, 1 week ago

New law to limit foreign student total sent to Dutch parliament

Dutch News

Long-awaited legislation to reduce the number of international students at Dutch universities and to encourage those who come to learn Dutch, has finally been published. The new legislation, Dijkgraaf told the Volkskrant in an interview, will give colleges and universities sufficient means to manage the number of non-EU students on some courses, while taking into account the needs of specific …

International Dutch Students International Students Universities Foreign Student Dijkgraaf

10 months, 1 week ago

New law to limit foreign student total sent to Dutch parliament

Dutch News

Long-awaited legislation to reduce the number of international students at Dutch universities and to encourage those who come to learn Dutch, has finally been published. The new legislation, Dijkgraaf told the Volkskrant in an interview, will give colleges and universities sufficient means to manage the number of non-EU students on some courses, while taking into account the needs of specific …

International Dutch Students International Students Universities Foreign Student Dijkgraaf

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister

Dutch News

The government is looking into lowering the official age for starting school from five to four, and an introducing special pre-school classes for children with limited Dutch language skills, primary schools minister Mariëlle Paul has said. Currently some 3% of children in the Netherlands do not start school at four, and that can put them at a disadvantage, Paul told …

Children School Paul Earlier Minister

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister

Dutch News

The government is looking into lowering the official age for starting school from five to four, and an introducing special pre-school classes for children with limited Dutch language skills, primary schools minister Mariëlle Paul has said. Currently some 3% of children in the Netherlands do not start school at four, and that can put them at a disadvantage, Paul told …

Children School Paul Earlier Minister

1 year ago

Hundreds of expats plan court appeal to restore stripped 30 percent ruling tax benefit

NL Times

Hundreds of expats are working on an appeal against a court ruling resulting in their 30 percent ruling tax benefit getting cut by three years. The District Court of Noord-Holland ruled on March 8 that the government’s 2019 decision to cut the duration of the tax benefit from eight to five years could also apply to existing users. “An expat …

Expats Netherlands Tax Court Ruling Benefit Three Years

1 year, 3 months ago

Don't worry, integration tests won't get harder in January

Dutch News

I’m calling it right now: the level of Dutch required to pass the civic integration exam if you want to apply for a permanent residence permit or Dutch citizenship is not going to be raised by the Dutch government to B1 in January, writes lawyer Jeremy Bierbach. Human touch These changes were made on 25 January 2022 to account for …

Law Dutch Exam Integration Requirements Ind Migrants

1 year, 3 months ago

Don't worry, integration tests won't get harder in January

Dutch News

I’m calling it right now: the level of Dutch required to pass the civic integration exam if you want to apply for a permanent residence permit or Dutch citizenship is not going to be raised by the Dutch government to B1 in January, writes lawyer Jeremy Bierbach. Human touch These changes were made on 25 January 2022 to account for …

Law Dutch Exam Integration Requirements Ind Migrants

1 year, 6 months ago

Covid recovery scheme boosts children’s language development ‘by four months’

The Independent

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Children in Reception …

Language Children Email Programme Four Months Language Development Neli

1 year, 9 months ago

Dutch universities, students slam plans to slash English courses

Dutch News

Universities, teaching staff and students have criticised the government’s plans to reduce the use of English in Dutch education institutes, saying it will damage both their reputation and research. The University of Groningen issued a statement saying Dijkgraaf’s plans, outlined to MPs last week, would seem to “impair our ability to contribute to the Dutch knowledge economy”. University board president …

Education Language International Dutch English Students Netherlands

1 year, 11 months ago

DC Edit | Exams in local languages makes only limited sense

Deccan Chronicle

The request of the chairman of the University Grants Commission, mandated to regulate quality in higher education institutions, to universities to allow students to write their examinations in their local languages even if the course is offered in English is a bit baffling while his call for using local language in the teaching-learning process at universities required wider discussion before …

Education Language English Local Languages Hindi Ugc

1 year, 11 months ago

Utrecht to keep its own welfare benefit rules for youngsters

Dutch News

Utrecht city council is to retain its own rules for dealing with youngsters who make welfare claims to remove the difference between the under-27s and older claimants. Utrecht scrapped age-related measures in 2022 and welfare chief Linda Voortman told the Volkskrant that officials have decided to remove them permanently. Nevertheless, the paper points out, the number of youngsters claiming welfare …

Welfare Youngsters Utrecht Benefit Rules

1 year, 11 months ago

Utrecht to keep its own welfare benefit rules for youngsters

Dutch News

Utrecht city council is to retain its own rules for dealing with youngsters who make welfare claims to remove the difference between the under-27s and older claimants. Utrecht scrapped age-related measures in 2022 and welfare chief Linda Voortman told the Volkskrant that officials have decided to remove them permanently. Nevertheless, the paper points out, the number of youngsters claiming welfare …

Welfare Youngsters Utrecht Benefit Rules

2 years ago

Government benefits errors put 5,000 families under poverty line

Dutch News

At least five thousand Dutch families have been living below the poverty line due to the government incorrectly reclaiming benefits, report Dutch media. The problem is related to families receiving extra cash to top up their salary or long-term unemployment or sickness benefits to a ‘living’ level. In September, the Centrale Raad van Beroep ruled that Arnhem council needed to …

Poverty Benefits Dutch Tax Income Families Told

2 years ago

Government benefits errors put 5,000 families under poverty line

Dutch News

At least five thousand Dutch families have been living below the poverty line due to the government incorrectly reclaiming benefits, report Dutch media. The problem is related to families receiving extra cash to top up their salary or long-term unemployment or sickness benefits to a ‘living’ level. In September, the Centrale Raad van Beroep ruled that Arnhem council needed to …

Poverty Benefits Dutch Tax Income Families Told

2 years, 3 months ago

Municipalities developed over 60 programs to "close gaps" for the poor

NL Times

Dutch municipalities developed more than 60 additional programs to help low-income residents in times of high inflation. The aim of this measure was not only to support low-income and the poorest families, but also people in the lower-middle income range, who were also affected by the current economic situation in the Netherlands. Also this year, the municipalities have invested a …

Nos Income Support

2 years, 4 months ago

Dutch people again ranked best non-native English speakers

NL Times

The Netherlands ranked first for having the best English-language skills in a country where English is not the native language. The Netherlands has been in the top three of the EF English Proficiency Index since its first edition in 2011 and has held 1st place every year since 2019. This year EF ranked 111 countries on their English proficiency based …

English Proficiency English Proficiency Netherlands Ranked

2 years, 9 months ago

Rotterdam wants Cabinet to fund plan putting refugees in jobs, traineeships

NL Times

Rotterdam launched a new approach to helping refugees settle in the city in which they don't only get language lessons and training but also a job guarantee within the municipality or elsewhere in the labor market. "With this approach, we save on benefits and train good people for the labor market, which is why we want the government to reimburse …

Work Rotterdam Karremans Putting Refugees

2 years, 9 months ago

Welfare claims continue to fall, reach a 8.5 year low: CBS

Dutch News

The number of people claiming welfare benefits in the Netherlands reached the lowest level since September 2013 in the first quarter of 2022, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the CBS said the number of people in work in the Netherlands had passed the nine million mark for the first time. Some people have two jobs,’ …

Netherlands Cbs

2 years, 9 months ago

Welfare claims continue to fall, reach a 8.5 year low: CBS

Dutch News

The number of people claiming welfare benefits in the Netherlands reached the lowest level since September 2013 in the first quarter of 2022, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the CBS said the number of people in work in the Netherlands had passed the nine million mark for the first time. Some people have two jobs,’ …

Netherlands Cbs

2 years, 11 months ago

Schools pressed to boost reading, math levels

NL Times

Dutch schools must improve their language and math lessons within two years, as well lessons on civics. For example, 91 percent of primary schools say increased professionalism would help improve math lessons. Minister Dennis Wiersma said he would develop a "master plan to get the basics in order, with extra support for teachers." Teachers will receive a higher salary, less …

Inspectorate Education Sweden

3 years, 1 month ago

Speaking just one language is not the norm: encouraging bilingualism in NL

Dutch News

Monday 21 February is UNESCO International Mother Language Day. According to the report, ‘there is no research evidence that speaking one’s home language would cause a breakdown of social cohesion; indeed, many studies worldwide indicate the opposite.’ Instead, the report writes, ‘allowing children to use their mother tongue … helps students better understand academic concepts, improves their confidence, and increases …

Education Children Dutch School Schools Polish Eindhoven

3 years, 1 month ago

Speaking just one language is not the norm: encouraging bilingualism in NL

Dutch News

Monday 21 February is UNESCO International Mother Language Day. According to the report, ‘there is no research evidence that speaking one’s home language would cause a breakdown of social cohesion; indeed, many studies worldwide indicate the opposite.’ Instead, the report writes, ‘allowing children to use their mother tongue … helps students better understand academic concepts, improves their confidence, and increases …

Education Children Dutch School Schools Polish Eindhoven

3 years, 2 months ago

A life lesson: Foreign teaching assistants in Spain suffer over wages

The Independent

“I suffered from acute insomnia,” Jesse says, “waiting for payments and wondering if I’d be able to pay rent that month, buy groceries, or pay for transportation.” The 28-year-old, from Seattle, is one of hundreds of part-time English teachers that have been left without pay for months at a time in the Valencia region of southern Spain. “We have improved …

Language Spain English British Pay Council Payment

3 years, 2 months ago

Pupils to learn 1,700 words for language GCSEs under ‘prescriptive’ reforms

The Independent

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The decision comes after organisations representing headteachers had warned that the Government’s “risky” proposals …

Language Words Students Reforms General Secretary Languages French

3 years, 2 months ago

Rotterdam takes hard stance against benefit fraudsters

NL Times

Nearly a quarter of all benefits fraud cases in 2021 came from Rotterdam, making the municipality the Dutch front-runner, Trouw reported. Out of the 579 appeals filed in the category of social assistance benefits last year, 133 came from Rotterdam, according to the Central Appeals Council. Last year, Rotterdam demanded sums ranging between 4,000 and 22,000 euros back from 20 …

Rotterdam Municipality Stance Benefit

3 years, 4 months ago

‘It took me 10 years to learn Dutch – but language is only a small part of communicating’

Dutch News

Abi Daruvalla fled to Amsterdam from the UK more than 40 years ago and worked for many years as a journalist/foreign correspondent and as a trainer with the Dutch World Service and Free Press Unlimited. I was born and grew up in England but as my parents were Indian immigrants, I was often treated as a foreigner – although I …

Love Amsterdam Dutch Netherlands Young National Service

3 years, 6 months ago

Leveling up: What changes in the inburgering process from 2022?

Dutch News

With an increase in the language requirements for the integration exams imminent, smart candidates are signing up for a new self-access course with InburgeringOnline.nl to prepare for their exams in advance of the change. ‘People who become ingeburgeringsplichtig before January 1st still deal with the requirement of the current law.’ For this group, the level of the exam will remain …

Language Exams Dutch Integration Process Level Newcomers

3 years, 6 months ago

Leveling up: What changes in the inburgering process from 2022?

Dutch News

With an increase in the language requirements for the integration exams imminent, smart candidates are signing up for a new self-access course with InburgeringOnline.nl to prepare for their exams in advance of the change. ‘People who become ingeburgeringsplichtig before January 1st still deal with the requirement of the current law.’ For this group, the level of the exam will remain …

Language Exams Dutch Integration Process Level Newcomers

3 years, 9 months ago

How to pass your inburgering exams without wasting time and money

Dutch News

Preparing for the integration exams in the Netherlands is getting easier thanks to InburgeringOnline.nl, a new self-study course which is proving popular with international residents. ‘The objective was to make an online course where people need no books, no school, and no teacher, and where they can prepare for the exam from all levels,’ he says. Accessible for all levels …

Language Exams Dutch Students Netherlands Integration Course

3 years, 9 months ago

How to pass your inburgering exams without wasting time and money

Dutch News

Preparing for the integration exams in the Netherlands is getting easier thanks to InburgeringOnline.nl, a new self-study course which is proving popular with international residents. ‘The objective was to make an online course where people need no books, no school, and no teacher, and where they can prepare for the exam from all levels,’ he says. Accessible for all levels …

Language Exams Dutch Students Netherlands Integration Course

4 years, 1 month ago

35 discrimination reports filed against Tax Authority

NL Times

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights so far received 35 reports of discrimination by the Tax Authority, State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen of Allowances said in a letter to parliament. The government called in the CRM after a report on the childcare allowance scandal showed that the Tax Authority profiled citizens on ethnicity, NU.nl reports. This will initially done for …

Crm Van Huffelen Tax Authority

4 years, 3 months ago

Assam to Introduce New Law to Accord Bodo Status of Associate Official Language

News 18

The Assam government on Tuesday said it will introduce a new law to accord Bodo the status of associate official language of the state. “The cabinet approved for introduction of Assam Official Language Amendment Bill for Bodo Language in Devanagari script as Associate Official Language,” a release from the Chief Minister’s Office said. In October, the state government had announced …

State Ssa Bodo Language

4 years, 4 months ago

New language requirement making Dutch citizenship unattainable: Refugee organization

NL Times

The government's new language requirements will make Dutch citizenship unattainable for between 50 thousand and 100 thousand refugees in the country, according to refugee organization Vlucthelingenwerk Nederland. The increased language requirement has a "discriminatory effect" that will result in a group of "second class citizens", the organization said to RTL Nieuws. The government now wants to increase the language requirement …

Language Dutch Requirement Dutch Citizenship Thousand Refugees

4 years, 5 months ago

Expat partners are an untapped source of highly-skilled labour: survey

Dutch News

A survey of people who moved to the Netherlands to be with their partners who either lived or were posted here shows seven in 10 gave up their career or business to relocate. ‘Even though the official work in all the tech companies is done in English, the culture within the organisation compels you to learn Dutch or else you …

Dutch English Netherlands Work Labour Survey

4 years, 5 months ago

Expat partners are an untapped source of highly-skilled labour: survey

Dutch News

A survey of people who moved to the Netherlands to be with their partners who either lived or were posted here shows seven in 10 gave up their career or business to relocate. ‘Even though the official work in all the tech companies is done in English, the culture within the organisation compels you to learn Dutch or else you …

Dutch English Netherlands Work

4 years, 9 months ago

Dutch integration process to include stricter language, job requirements from 2021

NL Times

Some immigrants and asylum seekers who arrive in the Netherlands from next summer year may be required to learn a higher level of Dutch and to take up an occupation or voluntary service in tandem with language courses in order to integrate more quickly, according to a new proposal by Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Wouter Koolmees. Because the …

Language Dutch Integration Process

4 years, 11 months ago

Sharp increase in welfare applications, especially from young flex workers: report

NL Times

The number of applications for social assistance benefits increased significantly over the past few weeks, especially among young people with flexible jobs and in the four large cities. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht also received tens of thousands of applications from self-employed for the temporary bridging scheme for entrepreneurs. Amsterdam and Rotterdam also saw the largest number of applications …

Amsterdam Thousand Rotterdam Tozo Welfare Applications

5 years ago

Language, bureaucracy main obstacles for Syrians' integration

NL Times

Syrian refugees are struggling to integrate in the Netherlands, although many of them want to do so, according to report by social and cultural planning office SCP. Their main obstacles are getting stuck in bureaucracy and language schools that are underperforming, the SCP researchers found when interviewing Syrian refugees on the participation policy in the Netherlands, NOS reports. Many language …

Netherlands Syrian Refugees Scp Syria Refugees Integration Syrian

5 years ago

Thousands Of Non-English Speakers To Be Denied Disability Benefits Under New Rule

Huff Post

Ly La is a 50-year-old refugee from Myanmar with an artificial valve in her heart whose doctors say she can’t do physically demanding work. Without the $783 per month, La said through an interpreter, “I think I would die.” La’s case is one example of how the Social Security Administration considers English proficiency when considering disability claims by older people …

Education Benefits Security Social English Disability Trump

5 years ago

Fewer NL residents living on welfare

NL Times

At the end of 2019 a total of 413 thousand people in the Netherlands were receiving welfare benefits, a decrease of 19 thousand compared to the year before. The number of welfare recipients decreased regardless of migration background, Statistics Netherlands reported on Friday. Last year, the number of welfare benefits declined for people with a Dutch background, people with a …

Welfare Background Welfare Benefits

5 years, 2 months ago

Judicial interpreters on strike from today; delays expected in court cases, immigration procedures

NL Times

At least 1,500 interpreters in the Netherlands are on strike from Monday - they will no longer take work from the judiciary, police and immigration and naturalization service IND. According to action group Registertolken en -vertalers, the strike will last as long as necessary, AD reports. The strike may have major consequences for court cases, asylum- and immigration procedures, and …

Netherlands Strike Ind Interpreters Register

5 years, 3 months ago

Dutch government is violating rights of disabled under UN convention

Dutch News

People with disabilities and the chronically ill are poorer, and still finding it difficult to access care, support and special education despite the ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Netherlands in 2016. The report states that legislation introduced in 2015 under which employers were given a bonus to employ disabled people has …

Un Convention

5 years, 3 months ago

Dutch government is violating rights of disabled under UN convention

Dutch News

People with disabilities and the chronically ill are poorer, and still finding it difficult to access care, support and special education despite the ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Netherlands in 2016. The report states that legislation introduced in 2015 under which employers were given a bonus to employ disabled people has …

Un Convention

5 years, 4 months ago

Local councils must get welfare claimants to do something, minister says

Dutch News

Local authorities will have to make sure that everyone claiming welfare benefits either works for their money, gets training or is actively being helped to find work, social affairs minister Tamara van Ark has told MPs. A the moment councils, which are responsible for welfare benefits, take different approaches with some making no demands on claimants and others taking a …

Welfare Local Local Authorities Van Ark

5 years, 4 months ago

Local councils must get welfare claimants to do something, minister says

Dutch News

Local authorities will have to make sure that everyone claiming welfare benefits either works for their money, gets training or is actively being helped to find work, social affairs minister Tamara van Ark has told MPs. A the moment councils, which are responsible for welfare benefits, take different approaches with some making no demands on claimants and others taking a …

Welfare Local Local Authorities Van Ark

Councils not cutting benefits for poor Dutch language skills

History of this topic

Rotterdammers best at speaking English? New survey fails the test

Rotterdammers best at speaking English? New survey fails the test

Few councils cut welfare benefits for non-Dutch speakers

Few councils cut welfare benefits for non-Dutch speakers

Dutch govt to tighten welfare law: recipients must be able to speak Dutch

1.9 million people in NL can't pass simplest Dutch language school test

1.9 million people in NL can't pass simplest Dutch language school test

Language requirement for welfare claims in trouble as D66, CU drop support

Language requirement for welfare claims in trouble as D66, CU drop support

Learn Dutch or face welfare benefit cuts, minister says

Learn Dutch or face welfare benefit cuts, minister says

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