Schemes which require people who claim welfare benefits (bijstand) to take any work offered should be investigated to make sure they are not being used as cheap labour, according to PvdA and D66 MPs.

According to website nu.nl, they want junior social affairs minister Jetta Klijnsma to look into reports that welfare claimants are being used to replace real jobs, adding to pressure on the employment market.

Welfare claimants are required by law to ‘do something’ in return for their money and to help them reintegrate into the Labour market.

Blacklist

However, the FNV trade union has compiled a blacklist of cases in which claimants have been used to replace regular jobs and undermine minimum wage legislation.

The VVD says claimants should be given more say themselves about what to do in return for benefits.

MPs are due to debate the welfare benefit system with the minister later on Wednesday.