Nieuws van de afdeling

24 December 2006

Support European trade unions action against the sell-off of public services

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has launched a petition on the Internet against the liberalisation of public services and in favour of maintaining an accessible and high quality public sector. The SP supports the action and calls on everyone to do the same.

21 December 2006

No free emission rights for airlines

The Dutch government must do all in its power to resist the free give-away to airlines of rights to pollute. This proposal from SP Member of Parliament and environmental spokeswoman Krista van Velzen was adopted with the support of a sizeable majority of members. “Air transport is an enormous source of CO2 emissions and the 'polluter pays' principle should apply there as elsewhere," she said.

21 December 2006

SP demands payment of compensation for environmental damage caused by palm oil

The government must find a suitable means of compensating for the environmental damage caused by Dutch imports of palm oil, according to a motion passed yesterday by Parliament. The motion was brought forward by SP Member of Parliament and environment spokeswoman Krista van Velzen.

21 December 2006

Syrians won't be sent back following mistaken provision of information by Netherlands

A group of 181 asylum-seekers from Syria will be given residency permits thanks to the approval by Parliament yesterday evening of a motion presented by the SP.

21 December 2006

SP parliamentary motion leads to halt to expulsions of asylum-seekers to central and southern Iraq

Asylum-seekers from central and southern Iraq will not as things stand be sent back to their country of origin. These regions are so unsafe that refugees haling from them will qualify for protection.

20 December 2006

Lifting border restrictions under present circumstance irresponsible

“What is the Secretary of State doing?” asked SP Member of Parliament and employment spokesman Jan de Wit during yesterday's Question Time. Mr de Wit's question came in reaction to the decision by the Employment Secretary (a member of the neoliberal-minded VVD, a party which was trounced in last month's poll and will almost certainly not form part of any new coalition) to go for an immediate further opening of borders to workers from central and eastern Europe. The outgoing cabinet is determined to remove the so-called 'labour market test' for most sectors. This measure obliges employers to ensure that no workers already resident in the Netherlands are available to fill a post before importing migrant labour.

International