Dutch political parties are calling on people to contribute more to society, but fail to explain how they should combine all those responsibilities, the government’s social policy think tank SCP has warned.

In its analysis of the election manifestos of the 10 largest parties, the SCP found that most call on citizens to work extra hours while also volunteering and providing informal care.

While several parties recognise the limits of what people can do and propose measures such as care leave or better support for carers, they offer no clear vision on how people are expected to organise their lives, the SCP said.

None of the manifestos discuss a ‘realistic weekly workload’ that would allow people to balance their roles as parent, employee, child and carer.

The analysis focused on seven key policy themes: social security, asylum and migration, healthcare and support, climate, participation, democracy and social cohesion.

The SCP found that although parties promise action on urgent issues such as housing, healthcare, migration and basic welfare, few set priorities to keep public services sustainable in the long term. For instance, while they acknowledge pressure on healthcare, they do not specify how to contain costs or manage growth.

The analysis also shows that while many manifestos focus on limiting migration, they pay less attention to how people can live together in a diverse society, which is something, the SCP says, many Dutch people worry about.

‘The Netherlands is a diverse country, with people who differ in background, origin, education, orientation and beliefs,’ SCP director Karen van Oudenhoven told broadcaster NOS.

‘It is important for the parties now forming a coalition to find a shared vision on how we want to live together in that diverse society, while taking account of the interests of minority groups.’