Job-seeking people over the age of sixty who have difficulty finding a new job will, if it is up to the government, retain the right to a special benefit. Outgoing Minister Karien van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment, CDA) wants to extend the Income Provision for the Older Unemployed (IOW) by four years. On Friday, the Council of Ministers approved her bill, which must now be assessed by the House of Representatives.
People over 60 are at greater risk of long-term unemployment. For example, they may no longer be able to perform certain tasks due to physical complaints, or employers may often prefer younger applicants in job application procedures. That is why, since 2009, they have been able to apply for an IOW benefit after their WW or WGA benefit has expired, provided they were older than 60 years and 4 months when they became unemployed. The benefit is intended to prevent job-seeking people over the age of sixty from having to fall back on social assistance or their savings before they retire, or even have to sell their house.
Van Gennip says that by extending the scheme he wants to provide “an appropriate safety net” for people over the age of sixty who lose their jobs. At the same time, she wants to work with employers and trade unions to improve the position of seniors on the labor market. “That is important for them and for our society.”
The proposal will enter into force retroactively on January 1 if approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the meantime, older unemployed people can already apply for the IOW benefit.
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2024-02-02 18:47:15
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