Deployment of social return: springboard to employment

Public contracts are subject to a social return obligation. The goal is to get people with a distance to the labor market back to work. This was also the case with the redesign of the A.C. de Graafweg (N241). Together with Boskalis, Ampliar Uitzendbureau has already drawn up a plan of approach for fulfilling the social return obligation in the tender. Two candidates have since found a great opportunity on the labor market. 

For many years we have been a regular partner of Boskalis for the implementation of social return, begins Niels Muhlenbruch of Ampliar Uitzendbureau, an organization that has been successfully working for more than 25 years to get people with a distance to the labor market back to work. "We do that nationwide for Boskalis and now also for the project Rehabilitation A.C. de Graafweg (N241). We currently have two people seconded to the project: a project assistant and an area assistant. Both candidates meet the criteria of social return, but also have the drive to develop further and eventually move on to a permanent job. Because, that is what we are committed to: offering people a springboard into the labor market."

Good match

According to Muhlenbruch, Ampliar Uitzendbureau's strength lies in finding the right candidates for a good match with clients. "We operate nationwide, but operate locally. We recruit candidates mostly in cooperation with regional employer service points, a partnership between UWV, municipalities, educational institutions and various knowledge centers. We are therefore familiar with local legislation, because each municipality or province applies its own rules of the game for the interpretation of social return. For the redesign of the A.C. de Graafweg (N241) we are working together with the Noord-Holland employment service point. Together we are looking for the right match, matching the vacancy or position created for a project in consultation with our client. After all, social return must be meaningful. After an initial pre-selection, a suitable candidate is introduced to the contractor, Boskalis in this case, and then after a positive acquaintance starts work on the project." 

At the N241, Ampliar Temporary Employment Agency filled two social return vacancies. "We second them to the project, in principle for the entire project duration," says Muhlenbruch. "The goal is that they develop further during the project in order to be deployed again on a subsequent project after completion, whether or not through permanent employment. Or elsewhere in infra in a similar position." Annually, Ampliar has 500 candidates seconded to its clients. From low-skilled workers to people with completed HBO or university education. "Besides being an obligation, social return is seen as an opportunity by more and more contractors. It's also a great way to tackle the tightening labor market. A win-win for all parties and specifically for the candidates a springboard to the labor market."