The new integration law came into effect on 1 January. This means that the coordinating role during integration will lie with the municipality. The competences, experience and ambitions of people integrating are mapped out earlier. In recent years, the UAF has been involved with the Civic Integration Act at various levels. We will continue to do so.

At a national level, we are working hard to ensure that the education route is established and structurally embedded in educational institutions and municipalities. The UAF remains involved together with the VSNU, VH, MBO Council, NRTO, VNG and Divosa and advises the ministries of OCW and SZW on this. 

For the UAF, the starting point remains that the education route is part of the new law and will have to be created one way or another. This is in the interest of the highly educated person integrating. The Spring Memorandum will provide more clarity about the structural safeguarding of the education route.

In addition, the UAF continues to insist on this:

• Study opportunities for people over 30 with a refugee background 
• Travel allowance for people integrating to and from educational institutions, to make the educational route possible in practice.

Bespoke

At the municipal level, the UAF has recently provided regular information about our role under the new Civic Integration Act. We are happy to continue to think along with municipalities about how to create the most suitable offer for people integrating. 

Highly educated people integrating in particular benefit from tailor-made solutions and the UAF has many years of experience with this. 

From Wednesday 5 January, municipalities can call in the UAF for:

• Carrying out the broad intake for study/work
• Advice when in doubt about the right learning route 
• A training for supervisors and client managers about the broad intake for highly educated status holders. 

More information:  uaf.nl/gemeente.

Appropriate offer within B1 route

The UAF will also remain involved as a driver of MBO and HBO apprenticeship programmes. We can implement these together with municipalities and other partners. In this way we contribute to a suitable offer for highly educated people integrating within the B1 route.

On paper, the new integration law is an improvement on the previous one and offers options for customization. This has yet to be proven in practice. 

The UAF thinks along, advises and supports the municipality where necessary. We also keep a finger on the pulse of how the law is being implemented. 

As far as we are concerned, the good intention for this year is that integration and the flow to study and work actually improve under the new law. Talent and opportunities – for status holders and society – must not be lost due to implementation problems.