Functional labour migration
By “functional” I mean that the orange card would be issued to migrant workers to start jobs in key sectors, such as (health) care, energy-transition, and technical branches, in which it is impossible to solve the personnel deficits within the Netherlands or the EU. “Regulated” means that clear rules must be in place. To get an “orange card,” the migrants would need to speak the Dutch or English language. Also, they must be skilled workers, have housing and a permanent job (full-time, fixed-term contract or for the term of the orange card). The employees from outside the EU must directly get a permanent employment contract from the actual employer. Recruitment must be ethical, which means hiring people only from countries which have labour force surpluses with which the Netherlands have made respective arrangements.

Circular labour migration
“Circular” involves the return of the migrant to the country of origin. The orange card would be valid for up to five years. The intention is that after this period, migrant workers return to their home country to invest acquired knowledge, skills, and money there. Housing continues to be a bottleneck. I call on the political leaders in The Hague to give the municipalities a directive to let organise adequate temporary housing for at least 70 percent of labour migrants employed in the given region. Stimulating temporary housing in the proximity of companies with fast permit procedures can prevent the competition on the side of other target groups which suffer from shortages on the housing market. Bring the execution of flex housing under the scope of Crises and Recovery Act (Crises- en herstelwet) – this could speed up the turnaround time of required procedures. In short, the Netherlands is yearning for decisive leadership and, as far as I’m concerned, that should also lead to new policies on the labour market. Rather today than tomorrow.