Invitation conference, 11 June 2025: ’Labour migration towards the Netherlands and the EU: solution, challenge, or necessity?’

Join us for the annual national conference of EMN Netherlands, taking place this year on 11 June in The Hague. Dutch and European experts will explore the opportunities, limitations, and needs that should be considered when designing labour market policies as a tool to address labour market shortages. They will also examine how these policies can be used as a tool to reduce irregular migration.

Date – 11 June 2025, 11.30-18.00 (including lunch, drinks)
Location – Sociëteit De Witte, Plein 24, Den Haag
Organisation - EMN Netherlands
Language - English
Registration link - Please register here

The Dutch labour market is facing significant and structural shortages across various sectors. Labour migration from outside the EU/EEA, may be part of the solution. Yet it also raises significant challenges, including potential risks of exploitation and increased pressure on housing and other essential services. 

Balancing economic needs with social concerns is critical, and this requires exploring a range of potential policies that could effectively address both challenges. Additionally, for some EU Member States, labour migration can also serve as a tool to manage irregular migration flows, providing a structured and controlled legal pathway for migration while reducing the risks associated with irregular migration.

Focus conference

This conference will explore the role labour migration might play in addressing labour market shortages in the Netherlands and the broader European context, while considering both the benefits and the challenges it brings. We will look at case studies and delve into concrete examples from other EU Member States, and explore various approaches to managing labour migration. Policymakers and experts will engage in this dialogue to examine the diverse policy choices that might shape the future of labour migration policies. 

The discussions will be centred around the preliminary results from the EMN study 'Labour migration in times of labour shortages' (to be published mid-June), the recent recommendations from the State Commission on Demographic Developments, the Advisory Council on Migration, as well as the ambition of the Dutch government to put in place a more selective labour migration policy.

Programme

11.30-12.30 | Lunch, reception (registration opens at 11:00)

12.30-12.35 | Welcome

• Desiree Hoving, moderator

12.35-13.00 | Opening

• Rhodia Maas, Director-General; Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
• Kristel van Hees, Head of Employment Conditions and Labour Migration Unit; Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

13.00-13.10 | Presentation preliminary results EMN Study 'Labour migration in times of labour shortages' (study in co-operation with the OECD)

• Hans Lemmens, coordinator EMN Netherlands

13.10-14.10 | Case studies across Europe: ‘Different approaches to labour migration policy’

• Dr. Pau Palop-García, Political scientist and migration researcher; German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM)
• Barbara Bergbom, Chief specialist, coordinator project ‘Recruiting from abroad and employee retention in the healthcare and social services sector’; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
• Theodora Stathopoulou, Head of department for labour migration and equal opportunities; Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security

14.10-14.30 | Break

14.30-15.15 | Interactive session: ‘Stakeholders’ perspectives - practical considerations and experiences’

• Jules Wouters, Policy advisor labour migration; Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV)
• Tbc

15.15-16.15 | Expert panel ‘Rethinking labour migration: preparing for the future?'

• Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of the International Migration Division (IMD); Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD
• Telma Brito Martins, Legal and policy officer; DG HOME Unit C2, European Commission
• Gijsbert Werner, Senior researcher and project leader; Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR)
• Tbc

16.15-16.30 | Closing remarks

16.30-18.00 | Drinks