Working smarter together

The difference between an asylum seeker and a status holder mainly lies in the phase of their procedure and rights in the Netherlands. An asylum seeker is someone who has submitted a request for protection (asylum) in the Netherlands, but whose application has not yet been assessed. An asylum seeker generally lives at an AZC location (asylum seekers' center).

A status holder is someone whose asylum application has been approved and who has therefore received a temporary or permanent residence permit. A status holder may still live at an AZC location awaiting their own housing or has already moved to their own accommodation.

Asylum seeker – may start working 6 months after starting the asylum procedure. An important condition is that the employer applies for a work permit through the UWV. The employment permit takes 2-5 weeks to obtain.

‍Status holder – can work immediately and does not need a permit for this.

‍Ukrainian– people from Ukraine fall under the EU Temporary Protection Directive and are therefore allowed to work in the Netherlands without a work permit. The employer does have a notification obligation to the UWV to report when someone who falls under the Temporary Protection Directive enters employment.

No, FutureWork does not focus on labor migrants. Our focus is on newcomers from asylum migration who want to settle permanently in the Netherlands. This group is looking for sustainable jobs and employers who offer long-term prospects. This way we can help them make a good start on the Dutch labor market.

It's valuable to actively guide newcomers to work because they often need extra support to successfully participate in the labor market. Newcomers often don't know the rules, culture and expectations at Dutch workplaces. Guidance provides extra support to bridge differences and explain unwritten rules in the workplace.

A lot! For employers, it offers the opportunity to tap into talent from an often underutilized pool of motivated and talented employees. For the newcomer themselves, work means more independence and prospects, and for society as a whole, promoting employment for newcomers offers significant economic and social benefits.

Work helps newcomers participate, become self-sufficient and contribute to the economy and society, which benefits both themselves and society.