Social policy must be fair
Not unfair

In Diemen, there are many people who simply do what they always do: work hard, keep their families going, and try to save a little. Yet at the end of the month, there is often little left over. And then you hear that someone on welfare sometimes has more to spend than someone who works full-time.

That’s not right.

The problem lies not with the people, but with the system. Those who work pay taxes and lose benefits. Those who earn less receive more benefits and allowances. This can result in a net income that is less than the minimum income with benefits.

That is neither fair nor logical.

Onafhankelijk Diemen believes that social policy should be viewed more broadly. Not only for people on benefits, but also for workers who find themselves in a difficult situation. It is not about what someone earns gross, but what someone actually has left at the end of the month.

That is why we want the municipality to:

• • Focus more on net disposable income in regulations and policy;
  • Keep work attractive, even at a slightly higher income;
  • Distribute local regulations fairly, so that no one is left out.

Diemen is a place where people take responsibility. Where commitment is the norm, not the exception. Then the government must do the same: be fair, transparent, and without distorted incentives.

We advocate policies that do not punish those who work, but reward those who contribute. Only when we look at what people can actually spend can we speak of true justice.

Independent Diemen: for social policies that feel fair again.