Netherlands: reforming the system to help disabled employees

The measures aims to abolish the 100,000 State-funded jobs for disabled people, to review social benefits for disabled people (Bijstand, 314,000 beneficiaries) and the special system for young disabled people, called (Wet Arbeidsongeschiktheidsvoorziening Jonggehandicapten or Wajong, the Act on insurance against work incapacity for young disabled workers).  The number of Wajong beneficiaries has soared in recent years, going from 130,000 up to 200,000 people between 2001 and 2011, 50 percent of whom work part time.  Wajong benefits are paid to anyone over the age of 18 with a premature disability (notably autism) keeping them from working and also people under 30 who have a work disability of over 25 percent when they have been students for less than 6 months.  In total, nearly half a million “disabled” who are not always disabled (those who are kicked out of school often use this as a reserve, see our dispatch No.  090739) are covered by stages.  They receive 21 percent of minimum wage for a disability between 25 and 35 percent and up to 70 percent of minimum wage for disabilities over 80 percent.  The new logic now is the market logic: having as many active people as possible.  If disabled employees cannot produce enough to be entitled to minimum wage, businesses are allowed to cut their salary while towns will now have to make up the difference.  Thus, the State is going to save €1.8 billion in 30 years.  Secretary of State Paul de Krom thinks, “In Rotterdam, 33,000 people are asking for welfare while thousands of eastern Europeans are performing unskilled jobs in the same town.  This needs to change.  I want and expect a change in culture.”