Third Stakeholder meeting I-CLAIM (The Netherlands)

On the 8th of September the third I-CLAIM stakeholder meeting was organized in the Netherlands at the office of I-CLAIM partner Fair work. Stakeholders from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Rapporteur on Human Trafficking office, several NGO’S in the field of irregular migration, labour exploitation and health care, as well as the city council of Utrecht and Amsterdam. The Dutch I-CLAIM reports on Delivery work and Domestic Work were discussed and input was given on which findings should be prioritized in the policy brief that is currently being developed on the basis of the reports.

From the previous meeting it was already clear that irregular migrants are not associated with work in the Netherlands. Their economic contribution should be more and better recognized. The reports show a large variety within work experiences and levels of precarity amongst irregularised workers in both sectors. The variety is shaped by people’s level of dependency on others for access to the job, family situation as well as discrimination faced on the job. It was discussed that consumers have a role to play in both sectors, especially when they also act as employers like in the case of domestic work 

A best practice around domestic work in private households that resonated a lot with Dutch stakeholders came from the Finnish report on domestic work and are the so called ‘cleaning circles’. These circles allow households to collectively employ a domestic worker, making it easier to guarantee workers’ rights such as a fixed salary, working hour arrangements and the right to free time. Being employed by a cleaning circle counts as a way to regularize their stay. Getting employers involved just like with the campaign around access to the right to work for asylum seekers is an inspiration as well. To support collectivity for workers meeting spaces could be facilitated where irregular workers can meet and be informed about their rights. One concrete suggestion that was done was to extend the services of WIN punten with facilities for delivery workers such as providing access to toilets and a place to repair your bike.

Check other stakeholders’ meetings:

First Stakeholder meeting I-CLAIM (The Netherlands)
Tuesday, 28 November

I-CLAIM Stakeholders’ Meeting (Finland)
Wednesday, 289 November

I-CLAIM Stakeholders’ Meeting (Poland)
Tuesday, 5 December

I-CLAIM Stakeholders’ Meeting (Italy)
Wednesday, 6 December