The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) is faced with unrealistic questions from politics and the organization is too poorly organized to oppose. This is stated in an investigation published today by EY, commissioned by outgoing State Secretary Broekers-Knol about the problems at this service.
The IND is under fire because of backlogs in the processing of asylum applications. Waiting times have been way too long for years. Statutory decision periods are not met, resulting in millions of euros penalty payments were to be paid to asylum seekers. Moreover, it leads to overcrowded asylum seekers’ centers, because people do not leave.
Staff shortage, lack of experience
In November last year, the responsible State Secretary Broekers-Knol promised to have an independent investigation into the asylum chain, with special attention to the IND. This investigation shows that there is insufficient insight into the workplace from the management. There are also insufficiently experienced employees.
Moreover, there is still a shortage of personnel, with the current low intake of more than 60 full-time jobs. There is no plan to deal with that in the event of peaks. The researchers recommend keeping the current temporary employees longer and investing more in experience on the work floor. An emergency plan is also needed to deal with short peaks and crises, say the researchers.
‘Vicious circle’
According to Broekers-Knol, the reports provide a good basis for improving and strengthening the migration chain and the organization. She will study on it this summer and will then come up with a response.
In a response, the Council for Refugees calls on Broekers-Knol and the next cabinet to take this plan to heart. “The vicious circle of broken promises and accumulating problems for years now must finally be broken,” says Vluchtelingenwerk.
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