In her opinion piece 'It is a crying shame that the labour potential of refugees is not being utilised' in the Volkskrant of 5 February, Esseline van de Sande struck the right chord: refugees are eager to work, but encounter unnecessary obstacles, while employers are actively looking for staff.

Emergency bell

 The labor shortages are enormous in almost all sectors; there are waiting lists everywhere. Employers are making desperate attempts to find new workers. There is a lot of labor potential among people who apply for asylum or already have a status. Nevertheless, employers feel compelled to bring in new staff from abroad themselves. 'We could not get through to the Work and Income department and were not given access to the status holders, so there was no other option.' No wonder that employers' organization VNO-NCW sounded the alarm at the beginning of 2023: 'A smoothly functioning labor market with sufficient, easily deployable staff is important to maintain our prosperity.'

 Incorrect image

 In politics and the media, the incorrect image is created that people who apply for asylum or are granted a status do not want to work. Hundreds of conversations that De Stadscoalitie - home base of Esseline van der Sande - had at the Rotterdam emergency shelter show something completely different.
 Most residents want to find a job as soon as possible, have ambition, a sense of responsibility and feel the pressure to care for family members left behind. 'I want to work and pay taxes, I am grateful that the Netherlands is taking me in, but I have to take care of my family,' is a common response.

 How it can be done

 At Refugee Talent Hub, we see every day how motivated refugees are to get started and how valuable their contribution is to employers. Think of Weham , who will soon start at Accenture, Özlem , who found a job as a work planner, or Mohamed , who now works at TAUW. These are just a few examples of how it can be done. Thanks to targeted support, mentoring and collaboration with employers, newcomers can use their talents, contribute to society and build a future.

• Read more experience stories? - View our collection
• Want to read the full Volkskrant article? Check it out here

 Thank you, Esseline, for bringing the talent and ambition of these refugee professionals to the fore in this way. These contributions help to highlight the positive stories of refugees and inspire more employers to give these talents a chance.