Wet toezicht gelijke kansen bij werving en selectie

Law against labor market discrimination rejected: what does this mean?

A recent proposal in the Netherlands for a law against labor market discrimination did not receive approval in the Dutch Senate. But what does this law actually entail, and why did the Senate not agree to it?

What does the law against labor market discrimination entail?

The Law on Supervision of Equal Opportunities in Recruitment and Selection, officially known as this law, was recently passed by the House of Representatives with a large majority. This proposal aims to amend the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and the Allocation of Labor by Intermediaries Act (Waadi). The essence was to give the Inspectorate of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) more control over how employers select employees, thereby promoting equal opportunities in the workplace.

Discrimination in the labor market mainly affects Dutch people with a migration background and older individuals. With this proposal, the government sought to ensure that discrimination in recruitment and selection is no longer tolerated. The government aimed to achieve this by obligating companies to be objective in the recruitment and selection of new personnel. This would be enforced through stricter control by the Inspectorate SZW and sanctions for violators. Furthermore, discriminatory requests must be reported to the Inspectorate SZW.

Why was the law rejected by the Senate?

Although labor market discrimination remains a prominent issue in the Netherlands, the Senate rejected this proposal on March 26, 2024. The rejection stemmed from concerns about its feasibility and enforcement. Some senators believed that the law imposed too many administrative burdens on employers and intermediaries. There were also doubts about the effectiveness of the proposed measures to combat discrimination. As a result, they decided to vote against the law.

It is uncertain if and when the Law against labor market discrimination will be reintroduced for reconsideration. It is expected that the debate on this topic will continue, and further developments will occur in the future.

Impact on the labor market

Social organizations, including Recruiters for Justice, strongly condemned the rejection of the law. They emphasized that discrimination in the labor market is a serious problem that urgently needs to be addressed. Politicians who voted in favor of the law expressed disappointment at the lack of support from their colleagues.

Despite the rejection of the law, there are still alternative solutions to address discrimination in the labor market. These include conducting campaigns, raising awareness, and implementing measures within companies to promote equal opportunities.

WhatsApp community voor freelancers

WhatsApp community for freelancers

Are you a freelancer looking to save time when searching for new assignments? Then we have good news for you. Recently, we have established an exclusive WhatsApp community specifically for freelancers. It’s an easy way to access new IT assignments.

Our unique WhatsApp community keeps you informed about new freelance opportunities that perfectly match your skills and expertise. No longer do you need to spend hours scouring for new prospects; we bring them directly to you. We regularly post assignments across various IT fields.

Within our community, you can join different groups tailored to your skills and expertise. This ensures you receive assignments that truly align with your abilities. Of course, we prioritize your privacy. Your personal information remains hidden and is not visible to other community members.

We look forward to welcoming you to our growing community of freelancers. If you have any questions about the community or wish to join, feel free to contact us at recruitment@g-nius.nl.

Shortage of IT professionals persists despite industry growth

Due to the increase in digitization and the rising need for cybersecurity, the demand for ICT professionals continues to grow. Despite the rise in the number of IT professionals entering the job market, there has been a persistent shortage since 2018. How is it possible that the number of IT professionals keeps increasing while there is still a shortage of IT experts?

Number of IT professionals is on the rise

There are approximately 552,000 IT specialists active in the Netherlands. They work in various sectors, including government institutions, financial entities, healthcare, and IT companies. Remarkably, since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of employed IT experts has increased by 39%. Additionally, the number of IT professionals unemployed since 2018 has significantly decreased.

Rising demand for IT professionals

An increasing number of sectors rely on IT expertise. Due to advancing digitization and the growing threat of cyberattacks, the demand for IT professionals is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Especially the demand for software developers and security experts shows an upward trend.

Consequences of the shortage of IT professionals

The demand for IT specialists is still growing faster than the number of employed IT professionals. There has been a shortage of IT experts for more than 5 years now. This scarcity is a major concern for employers. According to ING Research, over 44% of them consider the lack of personnel as an impediment to business growth.

Shortage of professionals forces employers to think differently

Employers are primarily seeking highly qualified candidates with up-to-date IT knowledge who are willing to work full-time. However, such candidates are difficult to find. Applicants often lack sufficient expertise or relevant work experience. Many IT vacancies have a specialized nature, causing even recent graduates to not meet employers’ requirements. Employers must therefore adjust their criteria more frequently.

With the shortage of experienced specialists, employers have an opportunity to attract and train entry-level IT professionals internally. The advantage of this young generation is their awareness of the latest developments and their ability to quickly master technical challenges.

Need personalized advice?

Are you an employer looking for IT professionals but also experiencing the drawbacks of the market shortage? Get advice from one of our Business Managers. Each of them specializes in their own field and can tell you all about the latest developments in the job market. This will give you, as an employer, a realistic view of the market and increase your chances of finding the right professional.

Podcast episode 4 – Building bridges between generations

Generation gaps are of all times. But the gap between today’s generations in the workplace seems wider than ever. Why is this and what can we do about it? In the 4th episode of the G-Nius podcast, Michael asks Viona Terleth these questions. They not only look at the differences between generations, but more importantly, how to build bridges between different generations from strong leadership.

In this episode of our podcast, Michael talks to Viona Terleth. With her company “Happy Millennials,” Viona helps entrepreneurs to build bridges between different generations in the workplace. She does this with culture, leadership, and personal development programs to create happy and successful employees and teams.

What Viona says about building bridges:

“As human beings, we always look at the differences. So if we have cheese with holes, we’d rather look at the holes, at what’s not right, than at all the cheese around it. What we try to do is make people aware of who the person behind the difference is. Where does he/she come from? What is that about? That way you can respectfully and judgmentlessly connect yourself to the other person. And really understand the other person, before you want to be understood yourself.”

The full episode (in Dutch) can be listened to via Spotify and viewed on YouTube. It covers topics such as:

???? Why are there differences in generations?

???? What can you do to make the differences smaller?

???? The essence of coaching leadership.

Curious about other episodes from the G-Nius podcast? Then subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify channel.

Podcast Episode 3: Sales and Team Optimization

In the third episode of the G-Nius Podcast, Michael sits down with Douglas Huissen, the founder of SalesStep. Together, they discuss how you can optimize your sales team. Where are you now, where do you want to go, and what do you need to get there?

SalesStep is an assessment tool that helps you identify the qualities and development potential of sales individuals and teams. With this data, you can pinpoint opportunities for optimizing the sales department.

The question “How important is the balance within a team?” quickly comes up. Douglas uses the beautiful metaphor of sales and sports: “Compare your sales team to a soccer team, with 11 Ronaldos, you won’t win the Champions League. We ensure that we have the right players in all positions to become champions.”

The following questions are also addressed:

???? How do you assemble your perfect sales team?

???? How do you ensure that investments yield returns?

???? How can you use SalesStep in the recruitment process?

Listen to the full episode below:

In the next episode, Michael will be discussing different generations in the workplace with Viona Terleth. How do you build bridges between these generations? And how do you strengthen collaboration among them for a healthy dynamic?

Curious about all the episodes of our podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify channel.

Podcast Episode 2: Company Culture

In the second episode of G-Nius Talks, we have a conversation with Sam van der Steen. They discuss how a strong company culture can contribute to the success of a business.

Sam van der Steen is a culture builder. He helps entrepreneurs build a healthy and strong company culture that aligns with their mission.

With his knowledge and expertise, he helps teams grow into Tribes, guided by his vision of “mission over money.”

In this second episode, Michael and Sam discuss topics such as:

???? The importance of a clear mission
???? Succession Management
???? Money-driven vs purpose-driven
???? How to avoid a mismatch

Listen to the full episode below and learn more about attracting and motivating employees with a clear mission and a powerful company culture. The podcast is in Dutch.

The next episode is scheduled for Friday, May 26th. In this episode, Michael will have a conversation with Douglas Huissen, focusing on sales optimization.

If you’re curious about all the episodes of our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify channel. Our epdisodes are in Dutch. If you would like more information about this topic feel free to contact us.

Podcast Episode 1: All About Branding

In the first episode of our podcast, Michael is joined by brand builder Denise Klootwijk. They discuss the benefits of branding and how to build a strong personal brand.

Denise Klootwijk is a brand builder who knows everything about branding. She describes herself as “a strategic thinker with the mentality of a Rotterdam dockworker. Incredibly enthusiastic, highly skilled, and with a raw edge.”

Through her branding agency, Buro Bruut, she helps entrepreneurs build strong brands.

During this episode, Michael and Denise discuss why it’s important to build a strong brand, both for yourself and for your business.

Topics covered include:

???? Mission and vision
???? Brand storytelling
???? Difference between branding and personal branding
???? The essence of your personal brand

Watch the full episode below. The podcast is in Dutch.

In Episode 2, we will be talking to Sam van der Steen. Sam is a culture builder who helps entrepreneurs build strong company cultures.

If you’re curious about all the episodes of our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify channel. Our epdisodes are in Dutch. If you would like more information about this topic feel free to contact us.

Model agreement DBA Act of G-Nius extended by the tax authorities

The Tax Authorities have reassessed the G-Nius model agreement and approved it again for a period of 5 years. The G-Nius model agreement describes the employment relationship between the client and the contractor. The agreement can demonstrate that a freelancer is not employed by the client.

Model Agreement Act DBA

In 2016, the Deregulation of the Assessment of Employment Relations Act (Wet DBA) came into effect. From this, the model agreements were introduced. These model agreements describe the employment relationship between the client and the freelancer and between the intermediary and the freelancer. The agreement must be sent to the tax authorities for approval, which can then approve it for a period of 5 years.

For the self-employed, it is important that it is clear to the Tax and Customs Administration that there is no paid employment so that there is no obligation to pay payroll taxes. By using the model agreement, clients and contractors can assume that no additional assessment for payroll tax and employee contributions will be imposed by the tax authorities.

What does the DBA Act mean?

On 1 May 2016, the Deregulation Assessment of Employment Relations Act (DBA) came into effect as a replacement for the Declaration of Employment Relationship (VAR).

Clients and freelancers are responsible for making agreements within their employment relationships. They also establish that there is no paid employment. When doubt arises, a model agreement can provide certainty. Unfortunately, the introduction of the DBA Act has not produced the desired result and has therefore not brought the clarity it was intended to bring.

The Rutte III cabinet has therefore decided to replace the DBA Act. The aim was to do this on January 1, 2021, but this replacement will be left to the successive cabinet. The DBA Act and the associated model agreement will thus remain in force until further notice.

Model agreement G-Nius

The G-Nius model agreement is in line with the usual agreements that a client makes with a freelancer. By making use of this agreement, the client and contractor can demonstrate to the tax authorities that they are not employed.

Shortage of IT Professionals Persists Despite Decrease in IT Job Vacancies

The labor figures for the third quarter of 2020 show a decrease in the number of IT job vacancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the shortage of IT professionals in the market has remained unchanged. Talent continues to be scarce. According to research by Intelligence Group, 14% of the most scarce positions in the job market are IT-related roles.

It appears that the number of open IT job vacancies has decreased due to the pandemic. However, Intelligence Group indicates that the declining trend seems to be stabilizing. Despite the reduced demand for IT professionals, there is still a clear shortage in the IT sector job market. IT professionals remain highly sought after.

The following are the most scarce IT roles at the moment:

  • Network and system technicians
  • ICT managers
  • System administrators
  • Application programmers
  • Database and network specialists

Source: Intelligence Group

Currently, application programmers are the scarcest, but their scarcity does not seem to be increasing. For an active job-seeking application programmer, there are, on average, 19 open vacancies. For the other IT roles in the top 5, the scarcity does (slightly) increase. The greatest increase in scarcity is observed among database and network specialists. When they actively search, they only have a choice of 9 open vacancies.

To address the scarcity in the IT market in a new way, recruiters often utilize new job titles. Through this approach, they aim to differentiate their open roles from other job vacancies. In the past year, nearly 28,000 new IT job titles have been introduced. The following top 10 list may provide a good reflection of the current developments and new strategies in the job market.

  1. Data and Information Manager
  2. BI Consultant/Developer
  3. Infrastructure Services Team Lead
  4. Microsoft Power Apps Consultant
  5. E-Commerce & ERP Consultant
  6. Intelligent Automation Consultant
  7. SAP Front-end Development Consultant
  8. Archives Application Management
  9. Cybersecurity Advisor
  10. Threat Intel COE Security Team Lead

Source: Jobdigger

Curious about all the IT job vacancies we currently have open? Check out our overview HERE.

Are you looking for IT professionals but having trouble finding them? G-Nius is here to help. With our extensive network and years of experience, we can quickly respond to your needs. Our dedicated and committed Business Managers will search for the perfect match between you as the client and the IT professional who fits the role. Interested in the possibilities? Contact us at info@g-nius.nl or call +31 (0)73 610 14 69.

The Coronacrisis | G-Nius

It has been a month since de first person in the Netherlands was ‘officially’ diagnosed with the Coronavirus. In the meantime there are many uncertanties and situations develop which are new to anyone. These new situations bring no difference in the way we support our clients and professionals.

We do have some extra tips for the upcoming period which we should highlight:
– Make goals for yourself;
– Stay in your rhytm;
– Exercise, it is crucial to remain active
– Keep the 1,5 meter distance
– Read the book you have been postponing
– Give your social contacts a call to maintain a good relationship

By addressing the tips above we can remain healthy and make the best out of this period. Together we will manage the Corona crisis.

If you have any questions regarding our services, please contact one of our Business Managers.

Keep up the good work!

Team G-Nius