The rules on how much and what sort of voluntary work people claiming unemployment benefits can do are unclear and hundreds of people risk losing cash, the Telegraaf says on Monday.

The UWV benefits agency is keen to ensure people claiming unemployment benefits (ww) are not doing the work of paid employees, the Telegraaf says.

‘It differs from region to region what and how much a volunteer can do,’ a spokesman for the Dutch volunteer organisation said. ‘In some areas, officials have banned people from doing voluntary work in a hospital or pensioners’ home because it would be an economic benefit and the work should be done by a paid employee.’

Coffee

The UWV told the paper that having coffee with people in an old people’s home is acceptable but not cleaning the floor. ‘This is paid work,’ the spokesman said.

The issue is more acute because the government’s new particpation law will require welfare (bijstand) claimants to give something back to society in return for benefits.

This could include ‘work for welfare’ schemes in old people’s homes and daycare centres. The unions have already warned this could lead to volunteers replacing paid staff.