From VVD to Forum for Democracy... In order of the current seat distribution, spit out Service Management perusing the political parties' election manifestos for the Lower House elections. Looking for the plans relevant to the cleaning industry. We have compiled this in a free white paper (which you can download HERE). Each day, we put the spotlight on a different party. With today: Denk.
Denk (3 seats in the current Lower House) says it is proud of its multicultural society. “Unfortunately, everything to do with diversity is now problematised. Despite the demonstrable progress made by Dutch people with a migration background, a link is made time and again between origin and problems in society. However, this distracts attention from the real cause of problems. A rock-solid requirement for (medium-)sized companies and organisations is that they make policies to combat discrimination. In the absence of policy, punishment follows.”
A rock-solid requirement for (medium-)sized companies and organisations to make policies to combat discrimination
Minister for Inclusiveness
Denk wants a Minister of Inclusiveness, whose permanent task is to promote inclusiveness. “And an acceptance monitor, which will systematically measure the level of acceptance in Dutch society, so that policies can be drawn up with measurable targets. Abolish the term integration in government and replace it with the term mutual acceptance. This also applies to the policy practices associated with integration policy.”
Less pay for the same work
Denk notes that women and people from migrant backgrounds still get less pay on average for the same work. “We want to fight this inequality. Denk wants to organise a screening within the central government on differences in pay, after which unexplained disparities will be levelled. A government campaign to educate people about the existence of underpayment. Establishing an Equal Pay Commission, which can issue binding rulings in cases of underpayment.”
Deplorable conditions
Denk says it views with great concern the exploitation of migrant workers and the sometimes appalling conditions in which these people are housed. “We therefore want to introduce a licensing requirement for temporary employment agencies to counter rogue agencies that exploit migrant workers. We realise that all labour migrants must register with the municipality immediately upon arrival in the Netherlands. With registration, as a municipality you keep track of this vulnerable group, prevent exploitation and overcrowding in often vulnerable neighbourhoods where labour migrants are housed.”
More resources for debt policy
Denk wants more resources for poverty and debt policy, specifically to combat child poverty. “Within the poverty and debt policy, social debt collection becomes the norm and early signalling a key issue. Malafide debt collection agencies will be tackled.” The social minimum and the legal minimum wage will be increased. “We reform the wealth tax, with higher wealth being taxed more heavily.”
Denk wants to strengthen dismissal protection. “By relaxing dismissal from the Labour Market in Balance Act roll back. The stacking of temporary contracts (the chain clause) should be curbed so that people get permanent contracts sooner. Strengthen the financial incentive for permanent contracts through the premium system.”
All parties
Stop raising state pension age
The (accelerated) rise in the state pension age must stop, according to Denk. The party wants to expand paid leave options for parents caring for a young child. “There will be free childcare for lower- and middle-income earners. Every newcomer, both asylum seekers and migrants, must be allowed to settle in free of charge as part of family reunification, on a voluntary basis. There will be an end to market forces in the provision of civic integration services, so that the forest of private companies disappears, we counter fraud and the non-working labels are stopped.”
SMEs undisputed job engine
Denk says it will do everything in its power to ensure SMEs remain the undisputed growing job engine of the Netherlands. The party wants a tax cut for SMEs and a National Entrepreneurs Credit Bank to stimulate lending to SMEs. “We want to cut the regulatory burden for entrepreneurs and an MBK regulatory burden check for all new laws and regulations.”
Denk wants to collectivise sick pay for small businesses in particular. “So that hiring staff has less risk for small business owners. Nationwide money for companies we emphatically allocate to SMEs.”
We want to cut the regulatory burden for entrepreneur
Not left to fate
Denk says it is in favour of the government not abandoning people during this crisis. “The government must therefore continue to put in place support packages to accommodate businesses and people suffering from the corona crisis. Indeed, the support packages should be expanded. Redemption of fiscal debt is only an issue if there is a vaccine and the economy is growing. Lower-income people should be spared in all cases when a contribution has to be made as part of repaying fiscal debt.”
Source: Think
English (UK)