Experiments in social activation (1996-2001)

Host Country : The Netherlands

Place and date : The Hague , 15. - 16.6.2004

Peer countries : Bulgaria - Latvia - Poland - Slovenia - Spain - The Netherlands

During 1996-2001, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment authorised (on request) the municipalities to deviate from a number of provisions of the National Assistance Act (ABW) in order to develop new activation instruments to prevent social exclusion of benefit recipients who are remote from the labour market, and to promote their reintegration into the labour market. These deviations concerned, for example, regulations on compulsory job seeking or financial incentives.

Participants in the new measures included the low-qualified, lone parents, drug addicts and people with psychological and social problems. Municipalities arranged additional assistance for these groups in order to make the participants familiar with the working day rhythm and help them gain more self-esteem. They developed socially beneficial activities such as the recycling of old materials, management of second-hand shops, and work at public recreational farms. Further activities were organised to improve participants' social skills. Municipal social services carried out the experiments with other municipal bodies, reintegration, welfare, voluntary and client organisations.

Evaluation studies show that the initiatives have contributed to a reduction in social isolation, a strengthening of the labour market position and a more active attitude among the participants. They have provided the incentive for developing long-lasting social activation strategies, which continue even beyond the experimental period. The success of the experiments was due also to the fact that the policy received widespread support among the municipalities, and that they fitted into the development of policy strategies aimed at strengthening social cohesion within cities and neighbourhoods.

Social activation experiments are now being implemented for other groups of benefit recipients, particularly those on disability benefit schemes. Steps have also been taken to strengthen the policy.

Source: Joint Inclusion Report 2003 of the European Commission and Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Netherlands

Peer Review manager

Ms Thea Meinema ( NIZW )

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Experiments in social activation (1996-2001)

Host Country : The Netherlands

Place and date : The Hague , 15. - 16.6.2004

Peer countries : Bulgaria - Latvia - Poland - Slovenia - Spain - The Netherlands

Peer Review manager

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