Minister wants boot camps for young unemployed

21 February 2006

AMSTERDAM — Social Affairs Minister Aart Jan de Geus wants to investigate whether it is legally possible to set up live-in centres to impart discipline and work experience to young jobless people.

De Geus, a former leader of the Christian trade union CNV, unveiled the idea at an election rally of the Christian Democrat Party (CDA) on Tuesday. He elaborated on the scheme in parliament later in the day.

The minister said it should be possible to place 30,000 to 35,000 young people in the scheme. The candidates would be unemployed and not taking an education course and not claiming the dole. Left to their own devices these people threaten to become a problem for themselves and society, the minister said.

The idea of the camp boarding centres is not a new one. Christian Democrat Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers toyed with a voluntary version in the early 1990s.

De Geus said it did not take off because of the voluntary nature of the system proposed by Lubbers.

De Geus now wants to investigate whether there is legal grounds for a less voluntary approach. The results of the study are to be ready in April.

Chairman Hans de Boer of the Taskforce Jeugdwerkloosheid (Task Force Youth Unemployment) recently said ‘problem youth’ should be held in centres for re-education. He suggested barracks abandoned by the military would be ideal locations.

De Geus declined to go into detail on Tuesday until the legal issue is resolved. He said the investigation should not be left to lawyers alone. “We have to think creatively,” the minister said.

Subject: Dutch news