Participation Act and jobs agreement

The Dutch Participation Act (Participatiewet, in Dutch) has been drawn up to guarantee everybody's right to access to work, to make sure that work-disabled people also can find a job. The jobs agreement (in Dutch) is part of the Dutch Participation Act. According to the jobs agreement, employers in the market sector must supply 100,000 jobs for work-disabled people by 2026.

Support from regional work companies

Are you hiring people with an illness or diablity? Then you can get support from regional work companies and employers service units. In these organisations municipalities work together with instititions such as the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), employers, unions and educational institutions. Both UWV and the municipal authorities offer job coaches and mobility bonuses.

Work companies assist in placing employees with your company and offer work station supervision. They also help you with calculating your employee's wages. If you pay them more than the statutory minimum wage, the difference will be subsidised.

Finding candidates

UWV can help you to find employees who fall under the Paticipation Act. They can also provide you with a potential candidate's details with regard to schooling, acceptable travel distance and the number of hours they are able and willing to work.

Moving from benefits to work

Unemployment Benefit is part of the Participation Act. If you used to be self-employed and you are partly dependent on benefit, for a period of maximum 6 months part of your earnings will not be settled with your benefit. You may divide this 6 month period over a longer period.

If you are self-employed but you need financial support, you can apply for various forms of social benefit options from your municipality under the Decree on Assistance to the Self-Employed (Besluit bijstandverlening zelfstandigen, Bbz).