Fight for social justice: Where have the lawyers for social law?

Fight for social justice: Where have the lawyers for social law?

Friesland, Niederlande - In recent years there has been a dramatic decline in the available social law lawyers in the Netherlands, which raises serious concerns about access to legal help. According to an investigation of Platform Investico and de Groene Amsterdammer, the number of lawyers specializing in social law has decreased by more than 50% between 2019 and 2023.

This decline in certain regions, such as the Achterhoek and Drenthe, was particularly strong, where the number of social law lawyers has decreased by three quarters in the past five years. In Drenthe, only seven lawyers are currently working in social law, while only four lawyers are available in Achterhoek. This corresponds to a relationship between a social law lawyer to 25,000 inhabitants who are entitled to legal support.

regional differences and challenges

The dramatic regional differences in the availability of social law lawyers are particularly striking. In the southern half of Friesland and around Zwolle, including the northern part of Flevoland, there are at least 15,000 potential clients for every social law lawyer. In contrast, this relationship is less than 4,000 citizens per lawyer in Amsterdam. This unequal distribution means that over a third of the population in the Netherlands is entitled to social law aid due to their income.

In addition to these challenges, the public system of social security in the Netherlands is complex and is constantly changing. It ensures that people receive support during phases of illness, inability to work, unemployment and retirement. Advice by specialist lawyers, such as those found at Sprengers Advocaten, is becoming increasingly important for both employers and employees.

These lawyers have specialized knowledge of social law and offer support on various topics, including the Zieketwet (ZW), Werkloosheidswet (WW) and the Wet Arbeidson -Beltheidszekering (WAO). Sprenger's advocats are also involved in objection and appeal procedures and specialize in advising their clients regarding social aspects on the termination of employment relationships.