“We don’t just hand out jobs to asylum seekers, and we don’t just put them at the front of the line.”

There is a clear expectation from society that status holders will find work, earn their own money, and not remain dependent on benefits. But how Health do you ensure that people can meet that expectation as quickly as possible when they are still learning the language and are not yet familiar with the Dutch job market? 

Runways

To speed up the transition to employment, the Helmond-De Peel labor market region—which includes Geldrop-Mierlo—has been participating in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment’s “Startbanen” pilot program since 2024. The national government provides subsidies for this initiative. With additional support, status holders should be able to find work more quickly, enabling them to support themselves and reduce their reliance on benefits. 

Across the entire labor market region, 140 status holders participated in the first pilot, including 35 residents of Geldrop-Mierlo. A second pilot began in 2026. It focuses on an intensive program in which young integration participants work on their language and practical skills in preparation for employment. Two participants from Geldrop-Mierlo attend Dutch language classes and participate in hands-on activities four days a week. The program lasts one year and is designed to prepare them for the integration exam and the next step toward employment.

No free ride

The fact that status holders receive extra support also raises questions. Why is there an investment in this group, while other residents have sometimes been applying for jobs unsuccessfully for months? And doesn’t this give status holders more opportunities than other job seekers? 

Alderman Fiona Bijl understands that these questions are on people’s minds. “If you’re having trouble finding work yourself and see that a specific group is receiving extra support, it can feel as though others are being overlooked. People want to know if they’ll have the same opportunities. That’s an understandable Health.” She continues: “But at the same time, we believe that status holders should enter the workforce and not remain unnecessarily dependent on benefits. I think that goes without saying: anyone who can work should have the chance to earn their own living. But taking that step doesn’t happen automatically if you’re still learning the language, aren’t familiar with the Dutch job market, and don’t yet have a network. If we want people to move off benefits and be able to support themselves, we sometimes need to give them a helping hand. That’s not giving someone a job for free or giving them preferential treatment. It’s actually an investment to ensure that people can stand on their own two feet as quickly as possible. We don’t give people jobs for free, and we don’t just put them at the front of the line. We try to remove barriers.”

Appropriate support

That doesn’t mean, however, that job seekers can’t compete with one another. “Ultimately, an employer decides for themselves whom to hire. We can’t promise that there will never be competition. The point is that people who need extra support also get a chance to move forward on their own,” according to the Alderman.

According to the “ Alderman ,” other job seekers must also remain a priority. “Anyone who lives in the Netherlands and cannot find a job deserves just as much support as someone who has just arrived here and still needs to integrate into society. The type of assistance needed may simply differ. To this end, the municipality is collaborating with Senzer to help people who are distanced from the labor market find work. The ultimate goal is for people to be able to utilize their talents, provide for themselves, and participate in society.”

For the “Startbanen” pilot program, a federal budget of 475,000 euros is available for the labor market region over a two-year period. The mandatory language classes are funded through the integration program.