2021
Introduction
2020 was a year marked by four key topics. Of course, the entry of the Covid-19 pandemic is the heaviest. A disease that causes us to end up in unprecedented situations, which creates mega new government debts and which brings people in care to the edge of their strength
In 2020, a second event has started to play an important role. The report of the Borstlap Committee “In what kind of country do we want to work” is published. A report that examines the employment situation in the Netherlands, with a lot of attention paid to the situation of those who function either as working poor or as insecure employees.
A third step that stands out is that, since its participation in the European Minimum Income Network (www.emin-eu.net), not only EAPN NL is calling for a substantial increase in the minimum wage, while retaining the link to social assistance, the state pension and other benefits . The FNV, Federation of trade unions, in particular is setting up a “Towards 14” campaign, which aims for a minimum wage with an hourly wage of 14 euros.
And here we touch on event number four, namely the ‘allowance affair’, in which it appears that for almost 14 years the ministry of Finance, which pay the allowances, have accused people as fraudsters who have made a mistake
These four events have given 2020 a face. A face that can also be recognized in the way we deal with a pandemic that suddenly falls over us, with people in care, with low incomes and with Parliament. The predominant image is not cheerful. On the contrary. But these events do also offer opportunities to discuss very important topics.
Read the Netherlands Poverty Watch
2020
As a result of the corona crisis, the economy is about to fall into recession, unemployment is rising and social security is being invoked more. Furthermore, it can be expected that part of the working population has (temporary) less income. However, Netherlands is doing some good efforts to reduce poverty rates, as the minimum wage and minimum income have been increased in July and a next increase is planned in January.
Poverty Watch Main Findings
Most affected groups
Young adults
People with low education
Part-time workers and self-employed
55+
Children
Main priorities
- A rental freeze for the next 5 years and more affordable rental houses that meet all the demands of the time. Here the extra tax that millionaires are willing to pay and countering avoidance could be used to cover the costs. People can no longer survive without the allowances, but you can improve the rules of the game and thus not further increase poverty.
- Affordable housing
- Reduce the working poor rate and increase quality of jobs (and restrain bureaucracy)
- Reduce poverty among the elderly
- Increase solidarity and social justice
Read the Netherlands Poverty Watch
Read the Netherlands Poverty Watch in Dutch
Contact details
EAPN Nederland
P.O. Box 92; 3940AB Doorn
(Netherlands)
E-mail: info (@) eapnned.nl
Website: www.eapnned.nl