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Pantar Amsterdam: via work toward work

 

 

Mission
Pantar Amsterdam offers work and helps people who need support into a job on the regular labour market or at least as close to the regular labour market as possible. We strive to find a place on the labour market for everyone. That is most important: having a job means that a person is taking part in society, which will lead to a better sense of dignity.

Target groups
Some 9,000 people already rely on us. Most of those people have a subsidised job via the Amsterdam City Council, especially former ID’ers  and former WIW’ers  (4,500). The motto of the Amsterdam City Council is: No one staying on the sideline. That sounds like us. We are also helping other Council target groups, around 500 people in all. All those who wish to re-enter the workforce are welcome to become part of any imaginable project.

On average we assist 1,000 reintegration candidates every year. Our major clients include the Amsterdam City Council and the UWV. With others we may enter into an individual reintegration agreement. Those who are suffering a physical, intellectual or emotional disorder can be offered a leg-up via the social job creation scheme (3,000 people).

Everyone is at work
‘Work’ comes first with us. With us, everyone is at work: working for a boss, or seconded to an employer, or working at one of our own workplaces. That is what makes us stand out from other organisations helping people to get a job.

If we are unable to offer someone a regular job, we will always first make an effort to find them a placement as close to the regular labour market as possible. For instance via Job Support. That is where a person is employed by a third party under our supervision. Or via secondment. That is where a person is working for a third party but employed by Pantar Amsterdam. In either case the workplace is closer to the regular labour market than where the person in question is working on the premises of Pantar Amsterdam.

Some people come to a point where they are no longer able to work at Pantar Amsterdam. When that happens, we make sure they are moved on to work for a different organisation. Intellectually handicapped people, for instance. Later in life their working capacity often slows down. In that case they may be placed with a half-way facility, a joint venture of AGO (day care) and Pantar Amsterdam. That is where the employees are doing useful work, but under less pressure they would experience at Pantar Amsterdam.

Sectors in Amsterdam where our subsidised people work
People working for employers are mainly occupied in culture and the arts, sports, education, health care and the care of the elderly sectors, the Amsterdam City Council (city parts and services) as well as private enterprises.

Assistance
We train our people to take orders and work quickly and efficiently, to obey the rules, to work as a team, to respect other people’s opinions, to be flexible, etc. All matters that are essential for someone to become a good employee. The good thing is that training is done on the job. In many cases, people not only learn to become a good employee, but they also learn the tricks of the trade.

For every worker we draw up a Personal Development Plan, showing the level of education that is required, among other things. We are also involved in career counselling, help in choosing an occupation, and act as an intermediate when applying for a job.

Staffing
Our motivated workers are able to handle any situation. We give employers more and more choice. People who are facing a steep learning curve are working for low wages. Or people who have been around for some time and cost a little more. We can offer every employer the right man for the right job. Fast and straightforward employment offers, no commission payments, and no fine print in the terms and conditions.

The original task of Pantar Amsterdam
In Amsterdam and Diemen, Pantar Amsterdam is the executive organisation of the Sheltered Employment Act 1997. Some 3,000 people suffering physical, intellectual or emotional disorders, as well as persons claiming a disability benefit, are employed by Pantar Amsterdam in a fulfilling and paid job that suits their abilities and interests. 

Pantar Amsterdam is a foundation supplying goods and services on the basis of commercial rates. It is a non-profit organisation, but extra income is needed for investments. For every worker under the social job creation scheme the foundation receives a subsidy by way of compensation for the reduced production capacity of the handicapped worker, the necessary costs for extra help and any alterations to the workplace.

Setting the target group under the social job creation scheme
On the basis of the medical condition and the situation on the labour market, the CWI  decides when a person fits the criteria of the target group. The main criteria for having access to the social job creation scheme include: the person must be registered as unemployed, be registered with the CWI, and have a physical, intellectual or emotional restriction that would allow him to do regular work under special conditions only. From time to time the CWI checks that the person still fits the criteria of the target group of the social job creation scheme.

Work at Pantar Amsterdam
Pantar Amsterdam is present all over Amsterdam and Diemen. We supply a great variety of products and services: packing, assembly, shops specialized in recycled goods, conference resort, mailing, catering, cleaning, plant nursery, transport, parking garage manning and much more.

Work that our people are good at
Our people are good at doing labour-intensive work. They are very motivated in repetitive work without too many specialised skills. They thrive best on a continuous flow of work ahead of them.

Adjustments to work and workplace
In view of their handicaps, all our workers are assessed in terms of adjustments that must be made for their work, e.g. technical changes, special work assistance, structured work, or working for a limited number of hours.

Assistance workplaces Pantar Amsterdam
The consultants decide on the place of work for our people. At first they will look at the employer-employee option. If that is not possible, the consultant may send the person to a Pantar Amsterdam workplace. The consultant will follow the development of the worker and make sure that he moves on. The ultimate goal is to have the worker employed on the regular labour market.

At the workplace the workers will receive professional assistance from the supervisor. At the early stages the emphasis will be on getting familiar with the work and behaving like a good employee (starting on time, interaction with workmates, etc.). The supervisor will stimulate the worker to achieve more with the help of instruments such as the competence management system especially developed for the social job creation scheme, evaluation interviews, and structuring the work.

Workers can also make use of various training courses offered by the Training Department, including a course in social skills in work situations and specialised training courses. The department is even offering courses aimed at helping people in their private life, such as a course in managing personal financial affairs.

Collaboration with the Amsterdam City Council
Pantar Amsterdam is a partner of the Amsterdam City Council. As well as helping former ID’ers and former WIW’ers, we are also conducting specific projects for the Council, such as the Hoya project, projects for people wanting to return to the workforce, and WWB  deta jobs, where people can work while retaining their benefit.

More information
Wim Voorn, Business Development,
(0031)20-41 68 533  /  (0031)6-51 22 56 95   wim.voorn@pantaramsterdam.nl