Widespread staff shortages have companies in the Netherlands increasingly looking across the EU-borders for workers. The employees’ insurance agency UWV has noticed a sharp increase in applications for work permits, required for all employees from non-EU countries, NU.nl reports.

In the first half of this year, the UWV received 18,800 work permit applications. In all of 2023, there were 20,900. In 2022 and 2021, the agency processed 15,000 and less than 10,000 work permit applications, respectively. Though it should be noted that 2022 and 2021 were still affected by coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

Nevertheless, 2024 is seeing a big increase in work permit applications. So much so that the UWV often cannot meet its processing deadline of five weeks. The agency has warned employers about this, a UWV spokesperson told NU.nl.

The UWV sees various reasons for the increase. Late last year, the employment rules for asylum seekers who have not yet obtained refugee status and a residency permit in the Netherlands were relaxed. Since November, they have been allowed to work for more than 24 weeks a year, making them more attractive to employers. Asylum seekers need a work permit to work in the Netherlands.

The rules for Asian restaurants that want to bring in chefs from abroad were tightened on July 1 this year. According to the UWV, many restaurants quickly applied for work permits before that date to fall under the more flexible rules.

But the biggest reason for the increase is the widespread staff shortages facing the Netherlands and many other EU countries. Businesses in the Netherlands currently have almost 450,0000 unfilled vacancies. “The economy and labor market recovered quickly after the coronavirus pandemic,” a spokesperson told the news site. “Employers are now looking for solutions. Bringing in people from outside the EU is one of them.”