The government is facing a strong backlash due to the increase in the minimum salary for skilled migrants.
Business owners in the Netherlands oppose the government's plan to tighten the rules of the skilled migrant program, particularly the proposed increase in the minimum salary. Technology companies fear that rising wages could make it impossible to recruit skilled workers from abroad, according to Financieele Dagblad.
Under current regulations, anyone under the age of 30 who is employed from outside the European Union must earn at least €4,171 per month as a gross salary to qualify as a "skilled migrant." This program offers various benefits aimed at attracting skilled international labor.
However, the program has sometimes been used in ways that were not intended. The labor inspectorate reported cases of hiring hairdressers and cleaning workers under the skilled migrant program, raising concerns about proper implementation and use.
In response, the government announced in July that it would tighten the program's conditions, including raising the minimum monthly salary to up to 600 euros. Business owners fear that this will make recruiting foreign talent too expensive, especially for startups. Theo Henrar from FME, the Dutch business organization in the technology sector, highlighted the potential financial burden on small and medium-sized enterprises.
With the labor market in the Netherlands already tight, companies rely on bringing in foreign workers to fill skill gaps. If strict salary rules prevent this, business owners warn that it could harm the Dutch business climate and limit access to the vital talent needed for growth and innovation.