The government’s sociao-economic advisory body SER has called on the cabinet to take action to ensure tens of thousands of immigrants do not end up in poverty when they retire.

To qualify for a state pension (AOW), workers must have lived in the Netherlands from the age of 15 to 65, building up 2% of their pension rights every year. This means someone who moved to the country at the age of 30 will only be entitled to 50% of the state pension. Unless action is taken ‘the new poor will make their presence felt,’ SER chairman Alexander Rinnoy Kan said.