The government and employers should do more to ensure that all foreign workers in the Netherlands learn Dutch, and agreements about language learning should be included in pay and conditions deals, the Advisory Council on Migration said on Tuesday.

Given that over one third of foreign workers end up staying in the Netherlands for longer periods, “a better understanding of Dutch is essential for migrant workers to use their skills and qualifications effectively and for their further career development,” the council said.

“In addition, knowledge of Dutch contributes to social cohesion by promoting communication and interaction in the host society.”

At the same time, both national and local authorities should improve the way they inform all foreign workers about their “rights and duties”, using a language the workers understand. This should apply to both low-income and highly paid employees, the council said, and would help prevent exploitation.

The council also called for efforts to increase interaction between different population groups. “We call on the central government and local councils not only to provide information and practical support at physical meeting places, but to organise activities that are accessible to everyone,” the report said.

These measures should all be part of a 10-year “national coexistence programme,” the council said, adding that “coexistence policy” should be embedded in government strategy.

The report is based on earlier research and interviews with 29 foreign workers from various countries. Its findings echo controversial proposals launched by Labour and PvdA in Amsterdam last year, which called on companies employing large numbers of international staff to help them become “Amsterdammers” through lessons in Dutch language, culture and history.

Last year, the migration council also warned that the Netherlands should do more to regulate overall immigration levels, calling for a “balanced approach”.

Even so, council chairwoman Monique Kremer said the country must remain an attractive destination for migrants. “We need migrants to work,” Kremer told the AD. “But in Spain, for example, the Chamber of Commerce is warning people not to come to the Netherlands because you have so few rights as a foreign worker.”

Social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum said in response to the report that too many labour migrants pay tax in the Netherlands without being able to build a stable future. “That is why I would urge employers to follow the example of the cleaning sector, where workers can attend free language lessons during work hours,” he said.