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Country Poster
THE NETHERLANDS
BACKGROUND:
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Formed in 1815 |
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Bordered by the North Sea, between
Belgium and Germany |
PEOPLE:
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Population Growth rate: .5%, 16 million
(approximately) |
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Net migration rate: 2.35
migrants/1,000 population
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Ethnic groups: 83% Dutch, 17% Other
(of which 9% are
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Non-Western origin mainly Turks,
Moroccans, Antilleans,
Surinamese and Indonesians)
ECONOMY:
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Economy Overview: Prosperous and open
economy depending heavily
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On foreign trade. The economy is noted
for stable industrial
Relations, moderate unemployment and
inflation. The country
Continues to be one of the leading
European nations for
Attracting foreign direct investment.
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GDP-Real Growth Rate: .2% |
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Labor Force: 7.2 million |
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Labor force by occupation: Services
73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4%. |
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Unemployment rate: 3% |
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Exports: $243.3 billion f.o.b. |
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Imports: $201.1 billion f.o.b. |
TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES:
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Major European producer of illicit
amphetamine |
And other synthetic drugs; important
gateway for cocaine, heroin and
Hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large
Financial sector vulnerable to money
laundering.
IMMIGRATION FACTS:
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18.75% of Dutch Population is of
foreign origin or |
3 million out of 16 million.
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immigrants come from countries such
as Germany, Turkey, |
Afghanistan, Morocco and the United
Kingdom.
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Approximately 25-45% of immigrants
that come to the |
Netherlands make their way into the
country illegally.
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Due to the low percentage of
unemployment at 3% leads |
to the assumption that the majority of
immigrants are working.
REASONS
FOR IMMIGRATING TO THE NETHERLANDS:
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Immigrants from countries such as
Turkey and Afghanistan |
Go to the Netherlands seeking asylum for
humanitarian reasons
Such as violent conflicts. These asylum
seekers make up 30% of
The Netherlands immigrants.
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The other 70% of immigrants are made
up mostly of persons from other European Union countries, such as
Germany and the UK, because they are able to live and work within EU
member countries with no restrictions. |
GUEST OR
TEMPORARY WORKER POLICIES:
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The work for asylum seekers is few
and far between and the average immigrant works about 12 weeks a year. |
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Immigrants from other EU countries
are free to work the same as Dutch citizens. |
OBTAINING
LEGAL MIGRANT STATUS/CITIZENSHIP:
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The asylum seeking immigrants are
granted temporary legal migrant status for one year. This is
renewable twice, and at the end of the 3 year period, if return to the
country of origin proves impossible, permanent status is granted. |
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On way an asylum seeking immigrant
may obtain citizenship is to marry a Dutch citizen. As a result of
this becoming to prevalent, the government passed the Alien Laws in
2000. This now requires the Dutch citizen to prove that they make
120% of the national minimum salary and be under contract to work for
one year. |
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There are no restrictions on working
for immigrants from other European Union countries; however there are
major restrictions on the asylum seeking immigrants. In order for and
asylum seeking immigrant to be hired, the employer must prove that no
Dutch citizen was available to hire for the job that is in question. |
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