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HMSHost and Dutch refugee organisation start cooperation
Schiphol, February 4, 2019 – Finding a job can be difficult, especially for refugees in the Netherlands. To help make this transition smooth, food & beverage operator HMSHost and ‘VluchtelingenWerk’ - the Dutch refugee organisation - have joined hands. Together they have set up a program for refugees to get acquainted with working in the Dutch hospitality industry, combined with language lessons.
Six status holders started last Friday with a three-month training course at the various hospitality concepts that HMSHost operates in Designer Outlet Roermond. They are trained to become catering staff members by two work coaches. In addition to the on-the-job training, they receive three hours of language lessons and counseling from VluchtelingenWerk every week. After the induction process they are eligible for a regular employment contract. By working together, both organizations offer refugees the opportunity to fully and sustainably participate in Dutch society.
“Refugees in the Netherlands face enormous challenges to find work, partly because they are not skilled in the Dutch language. However, we want to draw attention to the talents they do have. As HMSHost we would like to give a chance to passionate people who do everything to integrate. Through this training program we let them get acquainted with HMSHost and how fantastic would it be if we could guide these people to a job or internal recognized food or management training”, says Patrick de Jong, General Manager of HMSHost Nederland.
Annemie Smeets, Team Leader Labor Participation VluchtelingenWerk: "Let's see refugees as an opportunity. An opportunity for employers to get motivated staff with greater cultural diversity on the work floor. Important here is that one starts from the talents of refugees and that one is prepared to invest time in a good guidance on the work floor. Most refugees prefer to get to work as quickly as possible. In addition, work is the best way to integrate. We therefore look forward with confidence to the cooperation with HMSHost and the municipality of Leudal, who has been involved from the beginning and has given full support and support to make this project possible. We are pleased that the province of Limburg supports us to make this kind of cooperation possible.”