1. The role of municipalities in the integration
of young people into the workforce: the
approach of the region Drechtsteden
Dissemination Seminar of the Mutual Learning
Programme, Brussels, 2 December 2014
Stanley Ramkhelawan, s.ramkhelawan@Dordrecht.nl

2. Outline
1. The region Drechtsteden
2. Labour market figures and youth
unemployment
3. Implementation strategy
4. The role of key stakeholders

3. Decentralised
labourmarket
policy
• Decentralisation of the
labour market policy in
35 regions.
• Nr. 26 is the region
Drechtsteden
• Shared responsibility of
local partners
• Municipalities
responsible for
reintegration of youth
up to the age of 27

4. Public stakeholders in the Dutch
approach
 Alderman: Creates local
partnerschips in the
region
 Ambassador Youth
Employment: reinforcing
regional and sectoral
appraches and to drum up
attention and action by
employers
 Minister: convenant with
35 regions, 50% finance
and monitoring

5. Region Drechtsteden, 270.000
residents
• Six municipalities
• Situated between the
harbour cities Rotterdam
and Antwerpen
• 270.000 inhabitants,
• centralised executive
agencies (Social
Services, Taxing,
Environment, Personnel)
• High profile in the
maritime industry and
logistics

6. Labourmarket Drechtsteden
1.1.2014
Data: Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, Business Register Drechtsteden,
Lisa, analysis and projections Research Center Drechtsteden
4 6 . 2 0 0
6 3 . 9 0 0
110 . 10 0
10 . 7 0 0
9 9 . 2 0 0
3 5 . 3 0 0
12 0 . 8 0 0
0 25000 50000 75000 100000 125000
regional employment
lives elsewhere
works elsewhere
lives and works in the
region
working labour force
unemployed labour
force
total labour force

7. Regional Youth Actionplan
“Drechtsteden utilise talent”
 The transition from
school to
employment.
 The transition from
social welfare to
employment.
 The transition from
work to work
(sustainable career).

8. Stakeholders for an inclusive
labour market
Entrepreneurs Education
Government
Metalent,
Leerwerkloket

9. Instruments transition “School to
employment”
 Learning and Working via Metalent
 Matchmakers
 Startersexchange and School – Ex Programme

10. Instruments transition “Social
welfare to employment”
• Baanbrekend Drechtsteden
 The employment agent: multi-problem youth
 Dreamteams Drechtsteden: communication and network
strategy

11. Role of the Central Municipality in
youth employment policy (1)
 Facilitator: provides leadership in connecting different
stakeholders and networks
 Executive: Drafting and implementing the regional action
plan
 Liaison: the link between the ministry of Social Affairs
and Employment and the Drechtsteden (Convenant
partner)

12. Role of the Central Municipality in
youth employment policy (2)
 Project leader: the binding force for cooperative
effort
 Link: education- labour market
 Financial engineering function
 Applicant for European subsidies

13. Thank you for your attention
Questions?
More information:
www.dordtwerkt.nl
Or mail
s.ramkhelawan@
Dordrecht.nl