With Inburgeren Werkt, status holders can gain between 8 and 24 hours a week of work experience for 9 months at a company of their choice while still receiving benefits and, at the same time, learn the Dutch language faster in everyday use. On the basis of the Plan for Integration and Participation (PIP), the client manager can decide to deviate from the specified period and the number of hours. During this period, they will develop competencies and skills that are important in the labour market.

The current integration policy is not working. That is why it is going to be revised in the course of 2020. The new policy of Minister Koolmees places control back into the hands of the municipality. Inburgeren Werkt ties in with this policy and the new vision of a parallel learning route of learning the language and gaining employee skills. The aim is to get status holders into employment through a work placement. It has been shown that this also helps the status holder to learn the language faster.

Status holders are asylum seekers who have received a residence permit (permit holders). This makes their stay in the Netherlands lawful and gives them the same rights and obligations as Dutch nationals.

Yes, only if the client manager decides to deviate from the specified period and the number of hours on the basis of the Plan for Integration and Participation. The status holder must work no less than 8 hours a week.

Yes, it is of course assumed that the work placement will last 9 months, but both the training company and the participant can indicate that they wish to stop before then. If this is the case, this must be communicated in writing to the service desk of Inburgeren Werkt via info@inburgerenwerkt.nl.  Please clearly indicate the municipality and status holder concerned. NOTE: This cannot be done retrospectively, so communicate it in good time!

The moment that the status holder or the training company wishes to terminate the work placement early, this can be arranged. The status holder's practice supervisor or the client manager indicates to the service desk of Inburgeren Werkt via an email that there is a desire to end Inburgeren Werkt early. The email address is info@inburgerenwerkt.nl. NOTE: Early termination must always be discussed first with the client manager!

The service desk takes care of initiating the termination. The client manager and the training company receive a notification in which both have to give the last working day and the reason. Once the details have been filled in and confirmed, both the status holder and the authorised signatory of the training company receive the termination agreement for digital signature.

An example of this termination agreement can be found here. The subsequent termination process is explained in the email communication to the client manager, the status holder and the training company.

There are various ways to ask questions about Inburgeren Werkt. By email: info@inburgerenwerkt.nl, via Twitter: @Inburgerenwerkt, via Facebook: Inburgenwerkt, via LinkedIn: Inburgerenwerkt or by telephone: +31 (0)88-4600500. We will do our best to respond within 24 hours on working days. The status holder can also contact the client manager with questions at any time.

To be eligible for Inburgeren Werkt, the status holder must meet the following conditions:

• Has a residence permit and work permit;

• Is living in one of the participating municipalities;

• The status holder's client manager has given permission for participation.

If the municipality is not mentioned on the website, then it is not currently affiliated with the Inburgeren Werkt project. All the participating municipalities are listed on the website. You can also contact the municipality yourself to express an interest and to draw their attention to the Inburgeren Werkt project.

Yes, the important thing is that the status holder lives in one of the participating municipalities. The conditions of the municipality where the status holder lives are applicable. View the participating municipalities here.

Yes, depending on the situation, the status holder may be able to learn employee and language skills in a 'protected environment' (e.g. in sheltered employment).

No, the status holder continues to receive welfare benefits during the work placement.

The amount of holidays depends on the collective labour agreement or the company regulations of the training company. If there is no collective labour agreement or company regulations, the statutory minimum number of holidays (4 working weeks per year) must be observed.

The intention is that the status holder and client manager actively search for a work placement themselves. The status holder can start working with Inburgeren Werkt at any company or institution, if it can offer a placement for 8 to 24 hours a week (exceptions may be permitted with the consent of the client manager). The company must also be able to provide appropriate supervision.  The companies that are already actively searching for status holders can register vacancies free of charge on our vacancy database.

If the status holder has found a training company, the client manager can register the status holder via the "Register Status Holder" option on the website.

This is decided in consultation with the client manager.

A progress review takes place every three months to discuss the progress made. The status holder, the training company and the client manager attend this meeting.

You can see an example of the work placement agreement on the website under the heading Sample Agreements (under Frequently Asked Questions).

Not a diploma, but a certificate that may help the status holder with future applications. On the certificate, the company states which competences the status holder has worked on and that he/she has proven him/herself as an employee and colleague.

Yes, if the client manager gives permission to do so. If he/she agrees to this, Inburgeren Werkt can be terminated early with immediate effect if a normal job has been found.

To encourage people to learn the Dutch language, we have decided not to provide localised content for all areas (e.g. the vacancy database). The key content on our website has been translated. If you need further assistance, please contact your client manager.

For the employer, Inburgeren Werkt means the opportunity to get to know potential staff in an easily accessible way. The employer meets an active and ambitious status holder, because the status holder him-/herself works with the client manager to find the company that suits him/her. There are no costs for the employer. Of course, they provide adequate supervision for the status holder.

Only companies registered with the Chamber of Commerce are eligible to act as a training company for Inburgeren Werkt. The company must be able to offer a work experience placement for 8 to 24 hours per week for 9 months (exceptions may be permitted with the consent of the client manager) and provide adequate supervision.

During this period, the status holder gains work experience under the supervision of the employer and improves his/her skills and competencies. Learning is paramount; the work is supplementary to that. Of course, the employer must take into account the normal legislation regarding health and safety and working hours.

If there is a suitable match between a status holder and an employer then the client manager of the municipality must register the status holder and employer via: www.inburgerenwerkt.nl.

In terms of location, the only criterion is that the status holder is a resident of one of the participating municipalities. There are no restrictions on the location of the company or the branch where the work placement will be carried out. View the participating municipalities here.

No, there is no guarantee of a job or other future commitment connected with Inburgeren Werkt. However, we hope that if the status holder has successfully completed his/her work placement period, the employer will offer him/her a job at a later stage or use his network to help the status holder find a job.

No, but by signing the work placement agreement and service agreement, the employer is agreeing to provide adequate supervision for the status holder. Of course, the company must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce.

Yes, but the number of status holders depends on the number of FTEs within the organisation. Below is an overview of the number of status holders permitted for the number of FTEs. This guideline is used to ensure that there is sufficient supervision for the status holders and to prevent misuse of the scheme. The rule still applies that there has to be three months between the previous state holder leaving without being offered a job and a new status holder starting in the same role. This is to prevent labour displacement.

There are no costs for the training company. The status holder will continue to receive welfare benefits during the Inburgeren Werkt project. However, the training company must provide adequate supervision. 

With Inburgeren Werkt, the status holder enters into a work placement agreement with a company. There is no employment contract giving entitlement to the minimum wage. The purpose of Inburgeren Werkt is different; by developing competencies and skills, the status holder is investing in his/her future. In this sense, the status holder is therefore not a normal employee, but a work experience student.

A vacancy can be registered via this link. We ask you to take into account the conditions of Inburgeren Werkt. Clearly emphasise the learning aspect and supervision in the text. If these aspects are not sufficiently clear from the text, the service bureau of Inburgeren Werkt will contact you.

Here you can view the sample agreements for Inburgeren Werkt.

Work placement agreement
Declaration of consent

Inburgeren Werkt uses a competency model. Below you will find an overview of the different competencies that are central to Inburgeren Werkt for each education level.\

MBO 2 (secondary vocational education level 2)

MBO 4 (secondary vocational education level 4)

HBO (higher professional education)

WO (research-oriented higher education)

Education interrupted