{"slug": "cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech", "title": "Cabinet launches plan to attract foreign workers for AI, biotech", "summary": "The Dutch cabinet launched a national talent strategy on July 10 to actively recruit highly skilled foreign workers in AI, biotech, defense, and energy sectors, while reducing reliance on lower-paid labor from central and eastern Europe. The plan marks a shift from previous policies that restricted foreign students and skilled workers, aiming to boost economic growth by 1.5% annually amid an aging population.", "body_md": "# Cabinet launches plan to attract foreign workers for AI, biotech\n\nSee more DutchNews articles in your Google search results\n\nSee more DutchNews articles in your Google search results\n\n[Add as a favourite source on Google Add DutchNews as a favourite source on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=dutchnews.nl)\n\nThe Dutch cabinet plans to begin actively recruiting highly skilled foreign workers in four core sectors: digitalisation and AI, defence and security, energy and climate technology, and life sciences and biotechnology.\n\nThe plan is part of a [national talent strategy](https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/07/10/kabinet-lanceert-talentstrategie-voor-toekomstige-welvaart) agreed by the cabinet on July 10. It names the four sectors as those where the Netherlands needs to safeguard its strengths as the population ages and skilled jobs go unfilled.\n\nAt the same time, the strategy says the Netherlands should reduce its reliance on lower-paid work often done by immigrants from central and eastern Europe in sectors such as meat processing and logistics.\n\nThe dual approach marks a shift from the previous government, which tried to reduce the number of foreign students and [skilled workers](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/06/fewer-highly-skilled-migrants-are-moving-to-the-netherlands/) coming to the Netherlands.\n\n**A change of course **The cabinet will join forces with public authorities and educational institutions to develop measures for the labour market, education, taxation, and migration. For internationals already here, the strategy leaves the “expat” tax break, the\n\n[30% ruling](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/09/outgoing-government-will-reduce-the-30-ruling-telegraaf-says/), in place, according to\n\n[Financieele Dagblad](https://fd.nl/politiek/1603562/kabinet-opent-jacht-op-kennismigrant-voor-ai-en-biotech-goedkope-arbeidsmigratie-afgeremd).\n\nUniversities and colleges will also be allowed to recruit abroad again, and education minister Rianne Letschert has said English language education on offer will stay.\n\nLetschert told the FD the government had work to do to repair the atmosphere of recent years, which she said had left some [international students](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/06/international-student-numbers-fall-for-first-time-in-20-years/) wondering whether they were welcome.\n\n**Boosting economic growth**\n\nThe strategy aims to keep the economy growing by an average of 1.5% a year as the population ages and employers struggle to fill skilled jobs.\n\nThe four sectors were chosen partly on the advice of former ASML chief executive Peter Wennink and former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, who wrote a report on European competitiveness.\n\nThe government is also looking at a pilot scheme to bring in skilled tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians, modelled on Germany, the FD said. Last week it confirmed a ban on agency staff in the meat industry, due to take effect in 2028, after widespread [reports of exploitation](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/07/meat-industry-faces-agency-staff-ban-over-abuse-of-workers/).\n\nFurther detail will follow in letters to parliament, with a progress update on the whole strategy due at the end of 2026.\n\n###### Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.\n\nWe could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.\n\n[Make a donation](/donate-to-dutchnews-nl)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech", "canonical_source": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/07/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech/", "published_at": "2026-07-13 08:16:54+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-13 08:37:31.819525+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["Dutch cabinet", "Rianne Letschert", "Peter Wennink", "Mario Draghi", "Financieele Dagblad", "Netherlands"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/cabinet-launches-plan-to-attract-foreign-workers-for-ai-biotech.jsonld"}}