Asylum seekers get to work sooner

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has decided that asylum seekers with a high probability of receiving a permit will be allowed to work up to 24 weeks per year, instead of the current 16 weeks. According to the ministry, the new rule is "beneficial for the tight labor market." Accenture Netherlands , one of the companies that has been working with refugees for years, is pleased with the new rule. Accenture Netherlands Country Manager Rob Knigge: "We believe it's important to invest and take responsibility: it's a win-win situation."

Accenture supports Refugee Talent Hub

Accenture is also a co-founder and partner of the Refugee Talent Hub, an initiative that has been connecting refugees and employers since 2016. The goal: to help refugees find paid employment, utilize their talents, and make a fresh start in the Netherlands. Many refugees have relevant work experience but are denied suitable employment.

At the same time, Dutch companies are facing staff shortages. Accenture, in partnership with the Refugee Talent Hub, offers a six-month talent track where participants with refugee backgrounds receive training in technical and soft skills. They also participate in a mentoring program that supports their professional and personal integration.

Open and inclusive recruitment process

Accenture is a global professional services firm providing management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services, with more than 779,000 employees serving clients in over 120 countries. Accenture Netherlands recently achieved its goal of helping 100 refugees find work by 2025 and aims to expand this target in the coming years.

Knigge: "Companies urgently need people, and diverse teams demonstrably perform better, which is why we have an open and inclusive recruitment process. Accenture now has more than eighty nationalities working together, and those diverse perspectives make us stronger. We also see firsthand what having a job means for newcomers."

Employers who see and utilize refugee talent

Wilma Roozenboom, director of the Refugee Talent Hub, adds: "Our goal is a Netherlands where employers recognize and utilize the talent of refugees. As far as we're concerned, the sooner you can start working, the better. Many newcomers are eager to get started. And we urge other companies to utilize the enthusiasm, talent, and expertise of newcomers."

Which asylum seekers are accepted and which are not?

The new rule therefore applies to asylum seekers who have a greater chance of being allowed to stay in the Netherlands. Asylum seekers with a low chance of receiving an asylum permit are no longer allowed to work under the new rules. This applies, for example, to people from safe countries.

The reason for changing these rules is the EU Asylum and Migration Agreement, which will take effect on June 12, 2026: from then on, a common European asylum system will apply. Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Mariëlle Paul: "Anyone with a good chance of staying in the Netherlands should participate as soon as possible. A job is good for the individual, and it also makes a significant contribution to the economy and society. But those who are not allowed to stay here are also not allowed to work. That is the foundation for a fair, clear, and necessary migration policy."

Good news for Refugee Work

The Dutch Council for Refugees also considers it good news that asylum seekers who have a serious chance of obtaining a residence permit will be allowed to start working sooner starting next June. "This way, they can participate in society. That's good for both the Netherlands and the refugees. Previous research by the Dutch Council for Refugees shows that the long wait, without prospects and without being able to truly participate, has a significant impact on the health of refugees," says spokesperson Iris van Deinse of the Dutch Council for Refugees.

At the same time, she argues, people from so-called "safe countries" are not eligible to start working sooner. Van Deinse: "It's still possible for someone from a 'safe country' to be eligible for asylum due to potential personal persecution. Consider people who are at risk in their country of origin due to their sexual orientation or political affiliation. The new migration pact, European rules that will take effect from June 2026, will establish an expedited procedure for people from "safe countries." It's crucial that people who are entitled to asylum for personal reasons are identified quickly. It's also crucial that they are quickly included in the regular procedure, so they too can work and don't fall behind."

Want to know more?

• View this dossier for more information, research, and articles on asylum seekers and employment.
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