The municipality does offer help if people want to return to their country of origin. But not everyone wants that, says Anna Bartann of the Barka foundation. “For example, when people are ashamed to go back empty-handed. Sometimes they have lived here for years and have no place to go in their country of origin. Sometimes they have other problems, such as an addiction.”
In the spring, Alderman Moti presented another action plan to tackle such problems, but according to the alderman, the municipality can only solve the problems to a limited extent. “We really need The Hague for legislation.”
Legislative change
Almost a year after the reports, Roemer is still working on this file. “I have not been put in the cold. I have seen terrible living and working conditions during the study. People are full of fear, there is exploitation, they sleep with several people in a bed, or are still alive after years. not registered.”
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment says it is working on some of the recommendations. But about half of the recommendations, according to the ministry, require legislative changes or decisions with financial consequences. “These are now being worked out so that a new cabinet can immediately continue with them,” says a spokesperson.
“The cabinet may be a caretaker, but the House is not. They have to stomp,” says Roemer. “The stories are known, we know what needs to be done and how. What are we waiting for.”
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