A quarter of all disabled employees in the Netherlands find work within eight months of being re-examined under the Occupational Disability Insurance Act, according to a study commissioned by the Administrative Institute for Employee Insurance Schemes. However, the work found by these individuals is usually of a temporary nature. Based on the study results, the Dutch Trade Union Federation questions the effectiveness of re-examination within the scope of the act.
Labour market situation for disabled workers
Some 24% of all disabled employees find work within eight months of being re-examined under the Occupational Disability Insurance Act (Wet op de arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering, WAO). This finding is revealed in a study (in Dutch, 552Kb PDF) published in April 2007 by the AStri Research and Consultancy Group, which was commissioned by the Administrative Institute for Employee Insurance Schemes (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, UWV). The study is conducted on an annual basis to chart and monitor the position of former disability benefit claimants in the labour market and the consequences on their earnings.
The analysis relates to disability benefit claimants faced with a reduction or suspension of their benefits in 2006. Those individuals who find work generally do so on the basis of a temporary contract or temporary employment relationship. Some 37% of the re-examined benefit claimants state that they have definitely suffered a loss in income, while a quarter of the individuals who resume an existing position report that they are looking for another job. This is generally because the position is only of a temporary nature, is not suitable or generates insufficient income.
Since 2004, some 340,000 occupationally disabled employees aged 50 years or younger have been re-examined. This re-examination now takes place on the basis of new criteria, with a greater emphasis on the candidate’s current working capacity. Disability benefit claimants are increasingly given partial clearance; however, until they find employment, they are entitled to unemployment benefits. Furthermore, UWV provides them with active reintegration supervision.
Dissatisfaction with reintegration supervision
Benefit claimants without employment after eight months are not particularly positive about finding work. Only one third of the jobseekers expect to find work within a year. Almost half of those looking for work cite health limitations as the reason for their minimal chances, in some cases combined with their age. Some 60% are dissatisfied with UWV’s reintegration supervision. Among the reasons given by claimants for this dissatisfaction are disagreement with the re-examination outcome or that they will suffer a significant loss of income. Dissatisfied claimants also appear to have relatively poor health or a low level of training.
Concerns over effectiveness of re-examination
According to the Dutch Trade Union Federation (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging, FNV), the study results indicate that the effectiveness of re-examination is not as favourable as previously thought. While it is encouraging that some persons find work, the sustainability of the new employment is an issue: most claimants only find work on a temporary basis. FNV concludes that employers are less than eager to take on partially disabled employees.
Nonetheless, such criticism does not detract from the fact that more people returned to work in 2006 than in 2005. In 2005, 20% of disability claimants returned to work within eight months but UWV cannot explain the reasons for the four percentage point increase in 2006. The study was solely intended to monitor how this group of formerly disabled employees fare in the labour market; that a quarter of them find work is an encouraging result. UWV also observes that some claimants are far removed from the labour market. As a result, the chances of them finding work diminish and their need for UWV supervision increases.
Marianne Grünell, Hugo Sinzheimer Institute (HSI)