Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment facts for kids
| Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid | |
Coat of arms of the Netherlands
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.jpg) Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment |
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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | 25 September 1918 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Headquarters | Anna van Hannoverstraat 4, The Hague, Netherlands |
| Annual budget | €81,8 billion (2018) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Deputy Minister responsible |
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| Website | Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment |
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (often called SZW) is a very important part of the Dutch government. Its main job is to make sure people in the Netherlands have good jobs and feel safe. This includes looking after things like social support, how bosses and workers get along, and making sure everyone has fair chances.
This ministry started in 1918. Back then, it was called the Ministry of Labour. Over the years, its name changed a few times. It became the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in 1981. The person in charge of the ministry is called the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. Right now, that's Karien van Gennip.
Contents
What the Ministry Does
The ministry works on five main areas to help people in the Netherlands. These areas are all about making life better for workers and citizens.
Jobs and the Work World
This part of the ministry focuses on helping people find jobs. It also makes sure there are enough jobs for everyone. They look at how the job market is doing and try to make it stronger.
Social Support and Security
The ministry helps people who might need extra support. This includes things like unemployment benefits or help for people who can't work. It's about making sure everyone has a basic level of safety and support.
Fair Pay and Income
They also work on policies that affect how much money people earn. This means looking at wages and making sure income is fair across different jobs.
Bosses and Workers
This area deals with the relationship between employers (bosses) and employees (workers). The ministry helps make sure these relationships are fair and that everyone follows the rules. They also look at things like trade unions, which are groups that represent workers.
Workplace Safety and Health
Keeping people safe and healthy at work is a big part of the ministry's job. They set rules and check that workplaces are safe. This helps prevent accidents and makes sure people don't get sick because of their job.
How the Ministry is Organized
The main office of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is in The Hague, a big city in the Netherlands.
The ministry is led by a Minister and a State Secretary. These are the main political leaders. Underneath them, there are many civil servants who do the daily work. The most senior civil servant is called the Secretary General. They help manage different departments that focus on the five main areas mentioned above.
Helping People Move Jobs
Since 2006, the ministry has set up special "mobility centres." Imagine if a company had to let some people go. These centres help those workers find new jobs in other companies within the same industry. It's a way to help people keep working instead of being out of a job.
A Look Back in Time
The ministry was officially started in 1933. This was during a very tough time called the Great Depression, when many people lost their jobs. Before that, social policies were handled by another ministry.
After World War II, the Netherlands started to become a "welfare state." This means the government took on a bigger role in making sure everyone had basic support and opportunities. Because of this, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment became much more important.
In 1982, the job of managing the labour market was moved to this ministry. This made the ministry even bigger and more powerful. Also, making sure everyone had equal opportunities, known as emancipation, became one of its responsibilities.
