Isn't it sometimes better to import tomatoes than to pick tomatoes? That question was asked by Joost Eerdmans of Dutch political party JA21 in a committee debate on labor migration last week. At the start of a new political season, the topic of labor migration is high on the agenda.
Caroline van der Plas from BBB was quick to ask Eerdmans for the precise meaning of his words. Did JA21 want to eliminate tomato cultivation in the Netherlands? No, Eerdmans clarified, but he does want to use the example to spark a discussion on whether all forms of labour migration are beneficial for the Netherlands.
Eerdmans: "I think we sometimes need to ask ourselves whether it's better to import the product or, in this case, bring the tomato picker here—so, the tomato or the tomato picker. That's just an example. I'm not saying we should abandon tomato picking entirely, but sometimes you need to consider— and I believe this is a very valid question—what impact your local production has compared to the effect of simply bringing the product to the Netherlands. Essentially, it's almost a rhetorical question from my side to the government: could this not be a very worthwhile consideration? Can you avoid low-productivity labour by importing products instead of bringing in producers or workers?"
Choosing between sectors?
The VVD recently kicked off the discussion on labor migration already, with a vision document. In the committee debate on 4 September, Thierry Aartsen expressed criticism on behalf of that party following a contribution by Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union. She pointed out, after the VVD's proposal to find out where labor savings were possible, that it would then also be noticed that this was not easily possible in all sectors. This may make it necessary to start choosing between sectors.
Aartsen replied. On that point of choosing between sectors that do, don't or have less place in the Netherlands, he says it is "an illusion" that the ladies and gentlemen politicians in The Hague can determine what the Dutch economy looks like. "Do we then go on our bicycles to the Westland to ring the bell of a tomato grower? "Hello, we have decided from behind a Hague desk that you have to leave." We won't. Those are wonderful, beautiful words that we can say to each other here, but the economic weather is different. We have freedom of economy and entrepreneurship."
The Netherlands is an entrepreneurial country. So how can you steer the economy? As far as the VVD is concerned, this is done by looking at whether smart fiscal measures can be taken that ensure that fewer labor migrants are needed instead of production going up and thus more labor migrants are needed. That way, according to Aartsen, it contributes something to society. "Then, as far as I am concerned, tomatoes may be picked and there may also be distribution centres and abattoirs if we organise this neatly and well together. Because we eat meat together in the Netherlands, at least 95% of this country, so then that will have to be done. Let's do that in a way that is less stressful for society. That's my plea."