The Dutch government’s program for attracting highly-skilled migrants, known as the “Kennismigrant” scheme, is riddled with flaws, according to a new report by the Labor Inspectorate (Inspectie SZW). The report highlights concerns about outdated regulations, lack of supervision, and the potential for abuse.
Rits de Boer, head of the Labor Inspectorate, criticizes the current system’s emphasis on salary over actual skillsets. In a document accompanying the annual report, he argues that “salary more than knowledge is driving this form of migration.” This raises questions about the effectiveness of the program in attracting genuine specialists for high-tech industries.
Inspectors find abuse across industries
The Labor Inspectorate’s findings reveal a widespread misuse of the Kennismigrant scheme, raising concerns about its effectiveness. Inspectors have encountered individuals brought in under the scheme working in fields far removed from the program’s intended purpose. These include “hairdressers, cable layers, cleaners, payroll workers, hospitality sector workers, and nail salon workers.”
The report goes further, revealing instances of “knowledge workers who turn out not to work at all,” and others receiving minimal or no pay. In some alarming cases, inspectors even suspect individuals of “buying” passports through the scheme to gain access to Dutch nationality after five years.
Calls for reform and a focus on true specialists
The report underscores the need for reform. While over 10,500 companies currently sponsor migrants under the Kennismigrant scheme, Rits de Boer highlights a critical gap: the lack of a required educational background. He proposes a solution: “focusing on truly knowledge intensive firms.” This shift would significantly reduce the program’s scope and ensure it attracts genuine specialists for crucial high-tech sectors.
The Labor Inspectorate’s report doesn’t mince words. It calls on the Dutch government to address the loopholes and potential for abuse within the Kennismigrant scheme. This urgency is further emphasized by the sheer number of people involved. With an estimated 90,000 individuals currently in the Netherlands under this program, the need for stricter regulations and a focus on attracting genuine specialists is more pressing than ever.
