Inflaion will remain high in 2023 and poverty will contnue to increase. It is estimated that by 2024 around one million people will live in poverty. Add to this that measures taken in 2022 to keep the lowest and low incomes somewhat afloat will expire in 2023 and it will be clear that action is urgently needed.
The fall of the Dutch government makes this extra difficult, but fortunately a large majority of the
Parliament is putting pressure on the outgoing cabinet to come up with additional policy. In September, when the budget 2024 will be presented, it will become clear which measures will be
maintained and what additional measures can be expected.
One of the spearheads of the poverty policy, namely reducing child poverty, has clearly not been successful, given the figures. Child poverty is increasing and will reach 7%. EAPN Netherlands says that incomes are too low, causing poverty, which of course also affects children. They have been advocating for an additional increase in benefits, the state pension and the minimum wage of 5% for years. EAPN Netherlands is therefore pleased that the Social Minimum Committee installed this year, led by Professor Godfried Engbertsen, recommends increasing this minimum income by an additional 7%.
Despite this clear recommendation, it is still unclear how the government will respond to this. The increase in the minimum income and minimum wage, implemented on 1 January 2023, which was historic in itself, was completely absorbed by the 2022 inflation.
