The European Commission wants to make it easier to recruit migrant workers from outside the European Union. For this purpose, an online platform for labor migration called Tinder is currently being established in the corridors of Brussels. Migrant workers will be able to enter the EU legally upon invitation from employers and member states.
Due to the aging population, there are not enough people to fill all the jobs. This problem is seen across Europe, where three percent of job vacancies remain unfilled. In the Netherlands, this rate is 4.7. Especially sectors such as healthcare, technology industry and construction are experiencing serious personnel shortages.
Major labor shortage
A large number of employees are needed for sustainable change and digitalization. Countries lack technicians who can contribute to this major change. The Commission hopes that the matching site will make it easier to reduce shortages.
The site can only be used in industries where vacancies remain open for a long time. Member States can decide whether to use the platform and how many migrant workers they will allow. “If there is a match between a person and a vacancy, member states still need to make a decision on granting a visa,” EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson said.
The matching site is part of the European Commission’s larger plan to reduce illegal immigration. The aim is to reduce the number of immigrants entering the EU illegally via the Mediterranean in the coming years, while making it easier for migrant workers to come and work in the EU without resorting to illegal and dangerous routes. EU Commissioner Schinas has repeatedly emphasized that countries can choose whether or not to join the matching site.
Reducing illegal immigrants
Immigration is an important political issue in many EU countries. This is an issue frequently mentioned in election campaigns in the Netherlands. For example, NSC, PVV and SP want the number of migrant workers to decrease. There are concerns that more immigrants will only increase tensions in the housing market. Some also believe that immigrant workers weaken the position of European workers.
CDA is also worried about this. “As long as we are still struggling with a housing shortage in the Netherlands, it is unwise to allow more people into the Netherlands,” says Jeroen Lenaers, a member of the European Parliament. According to GroenLinks MEP Tineke Strik, the shortage in the labor market is a huge problem and he welcomes the Commission’s proposal. “Take advantage of the opportunity to get involved now to eliminate bottlenecks in the Netherlands,” says she.
Source: NOS
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
