Work in NL (WIN) in Zeeland
International workers play an important role in the Zeeland economy. They contribute to the growth of various sectors and help move our region forward. At the same time, working and living in a new country brings questions and challenges. Where can you go with questions about your employment contract, salary, housing or your rights as an employee? The national programme Work in NL (WIN) offers information and support to EU labour migrants. Zeeland International Center (ZIC) is the WIN point for Zeeland.
What is Work in NL and what does a WIN point do? Work in NL is a national initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Its aim is to better support labour migrants in living, working and settling in the Netherlands. This is done, among other things, through physical and mobile information points (37 in total) across the various labour market regions. A WIN point is an accessible place where international workers can go with questions about, for example, employment conditions, wages, employment contracts, housing, healthcare, taxes and learning the Dutch language. The service is free of charge and focuses on providing information, advice and support. Where necessary, people are referred to specialised organisations, for example for legal or social assistance. This helps international workers better understand their rights and options, and where to turn when something goes wrong.
The role of Zeeland International Center ZIC is a point of contact for international workers in Zeeland, with locations in Goes and Terneuzen. You can also find us at the library in Middelburg every last Wednesday of the month, from 13:00 to 16:30. Our advisers help with a wide range of questions about living, working and settling in Zeeland. In doing so, we look not only at practical matters such as work, but also at the rights of international workers. We listen, inform and refer people on when expert support is needed.
Our advisers speak Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Turkish and Azerbaijani, so you can ask your questions in a language you’re comfortable with. To fulfil this role well, our advisers continue to invest in their knowledge and expertise. For instance, they take training courses from the FairWork Academy. FairWork is an expert in combating labour exploitation and champions the interests of victims of human trafficking. The FairWork Academy trains professionals in all aspects of human trafficking, including recognising signals, approaching potential victims and determining the right next steps. In addition, our advisers take training in employment law, so that they can better inform international workers about their rights and obligations in the Dutch labour market. As part of WIN, we are also running a campaign with short videos in various languages on practical topics, such as your employment contract, your citizen service number (BSN) and more. You can watch them on our socials.
Why is this important? For ZIC, it is important that every international worker knows where to go for information and support. By expanding our knowledge and working together with organisations such as FairWork, we can contribute to a safe working environment, fair working conditions and a strong position for international workers in Zeeland. Internationals are a great asset to Zeeland. By supporting them from the moment they arrive, we help them to make the most of their talents, and become active members of our society.
