EURES: your partner for cross-border recruitment

Finding suitable staff remains a challenge for many employers. Vacancies are taking longer to fill and the demand for qualified staff is growing. 

At the same time, our border region offers opportunities that are not always immediately capitalised on. A large labour market lies just a short distance away, including in Germany and Belgium, with potential candidates who may be an excellent fit for your staffing needs.

UWV EURES North and Central Limburg supports employers in finding staff across the border and helps them to make the most of the opportunities offered by the cross-border labour market.

About EURES

EURES (European Employment Services) is a European network comprising 31 countries, aimed at promoting free and fair labour mobility.  All Member States of the European Union (EU) are members of EURES, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. UWV EURES North and Central Limburg supports employers and jobseekers with issues relating to working and recruiting across borders.

The team comprises specialists in the field of employer services and job placement. They work closely with colleagues from, amongst others, the German Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcentres, Belgian partners, EUREGIO and the Border Information Points. Through this collaboration, they are able to provide employers with up-to-date knowledge, a wide network and practical support on cross-border labour issues.

What can they do for you as an employer?

If you’re struggling to fill vacancies, it may be worth looking beyond the Netherlands’ borders. EURES can help you with this, offering a service that is fully tailored to your organisation and your staffing needs.

Among other things, they provide support in the following areas:

• Searching for suitable candidates in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium;
• Recruitment and matching of candidates;
• Pre-selection of applicants;
• An understanding of labour market trends;
• Advice on training opportunities and available support tools;
• Support with enquiries regarding cross-border work;
• Connecting employers with relevant partners within the cross-border region.

Thanks to their collaboration with the German employment service and regional partners, they have access to a large network and a wide pool of potential candidates.

The main point of contact for the border region

Working with staff from abroad can sometimes raise questions. These might include differences in regulations, terms and conditions of employment, or practical matters relating to cross-border work. As an employer, you don’t have to find all the answers yourself. They also believe in bespoke solutions and fair mobility: your needs are their priority. Whether it’s filling a hard-to-fill vacancy, finding staff for future growth or exploring the opportunities in the cross-border labour market, they’re happy to work with you to find the right solution.

A good example of how this works in practice

Don Hensen of the UWV, in his role as a EURES adviser, specialises in cross-border employment. He helps jobseekers find work and maintains close contact with employers. He ensures that employers practise fair mobility, meaning they treat mobile workers fairly and equally. He also keeps an eye on things after placements have been made. ‘We usually have two follow-up meetings to see how things are going.’ Language, as he knows from his many years of experience, remains the biggest barrier to finding and keeping a job in the Netherlands. ‘If people don’t receive the right information at the right time, you end up with miscommunication and misunderstandings.’