Dutch jobless volunteer for tsunami relief work

6 January 2005

AMSTERDAM — Unemployed people in the Netherlands who volunteer for relief work in the areas affected by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean will still get their benefit payments.

Social Affairs Minister Aart Jan de Geus has responded positively to a request from the benefits payment agency UWC to allow it to continue payments to people who travel to the affected region to help. Several claimants had asked the UWC whether this was possible.

A spokesperson for the minister said he laid out strict conditions for people who volunteer.

The volunteer work must directly relate to the relief efforts coordinated by the United Nations. The volunteers must be ready to return quickly if a job is found for them in the Netherlands.

Subject: Dutch news, Indian Ocean disaster