Job centres told to find €35m

Tuesday 16 March 2010

The state-run job centres UWV have been told by social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner to find €35m to help get the long term jobless back to work.

Last week it emerged the job centres have run out of money to spend on new reintegration projects this year.

However, Donner said on Monday they will have to spend €161m on special training and other projects, an increase of €35m on the existing budget.

The money will come from within the UWV's existing budget, such as its legal action reserves, Donner told MPs in a letter.

The budget had been set at €126m this year, the same as in 2009. However, the increase in unemployment due to the crisis has added to the pressure on the existing budget.

Over 320,000 people are now claiming unemployment benefit in the Netherlands.

© DutchNews.nl

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