The Hague – In the first five months of 2009, 43,000 people have found a new job via a work mobility centre, according to social affairs ministry figures.

During that time, 5,000 people were able to start work immediately after leaving their previous job. The rest found a new job after being unemployed for a matter of months.

Under the programme, employers register both their surplus staff and their vacancies with mobility centres.

Local authorities, employers and the UWV, the agency responsible for administering unemployment benefits, then work together to help those personnel find employment.

There are a total of 33 such centres in the Netherlands.

The scheme was set up at the end of last year, when it became apparent that major job losses could be expected in the wake of the financial and economic crisis.

Radio Netherlands / Expatica