Senate to move: stop benefits to Morocco?

The lower House voted by a large majority for earlier termination of the Treaty that regulates the flow of money, against the sore leg of Louis Asscher Minister of Social Affairs.
If the same parties in the Senate agree, there is also a large majority for termination of the agreements that were made in the early 1970s. Netherlands then makes a unilateral end to the Convention on social security.

Minister Asscher would have preferred a treaty with Morocco closed adjusted about the reduction of benefits. Last year was the subject of an agreement, but Morocco suggested suddenly new conditions that are unacceptable for the Hague.

Life costs lower most parliamentarians want to reduce the current benefits because the cost of living in Morocco, after all, not nearly as high as in Netherlands. Flow annually some dozens of millions of euros of benefits to Morocco.

As the first Room puts an end to benefits, that does not mean that the flow of money immediately ceases. First, the Treaty with Morocco on social security be terminated. If that happens before 1 July this year, it has effect from 1 January 2017.

Moroccan Dutch people in Morocco are losing their STATE PENSION, but receive only 50% of the statutory minimum wage. Without Treaty is no longer entitled to check or AOW cohabitation. Netherlands fit this strict rule to all countries with which no treaty is closed.

Affected are the surviving dependants Act, the disability benefits DISABILITY INSURANCE schemes and WIA, the sickness benefit, child benefit and child budget, a charge that depends on the income. In total there are some tens of millions of euros annually to Morocco.

Lodewijk Asscher (Social Affairs) Minister wanted to actually prefer to adjust the current Treaty with Morocco. The application of the so-called country of residence principle most benefits go down, but not disappear. In some cases, extenuating conditions be applied. The AOW scheme would in that case be not less.

If the European Union and Morocco to agree on intensive cooperation, Netherlands weather the current situation must apply.

Source: http://www.ad.nl/ REUTERS/Photo collage AD