The government’s job centre network may cut at least one in five jobs as part of a package of measures to reduce spending by €489m.

The cuts, which form part of the coalition agreement, need to be implemented by 2018 and the total number of job losses may vary, a spokesman for the UWV told the NRC.

The UWV said earlier it would close 68 regional offices by 2014 and that job losses would be inevitable.

The cuts are to be largely realised by automating job searches. Only the over-55s and the disabled will continue to have personal contact with an UWV advisor.