Minister Van Hijum visits Metalwire to discuss labour migrant integration initiatives

On Monday, 26 May, Minister Eddy van Hijum of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment visited Metalwire in Horst. The visit focused on the topic of labour migrant integration. The municipality of Horst aan de Maas organised the visit to highlight effective, real-world examples.

Why this visit?

The municipality of Horst aan de Maas wants to show that the integration of labour migrants involves more than just employment. Language, culture, future perspective and personal support are equally important.

At Metalwire, we have been actively committed to supporting labour migrants for many years. Not only through language classes and cultural workshops, but also by offering stability, growth opportunities and personal guidance. Because integration only truly works when there is mutual trust.

How Metalwire approaches this

Our production and logistics teams now consist of around twenty people, the majority of whom have a migrant background. All of them are employed on a permanent basis. We offer a permanent position once someone is well integrated, both socially and professionally.

Our collaboration with long-standing staffing partners also plays an important role. Together, we assess whether someone fits well within the team and sees a future here. If that connection is there, a direct contract often follows soon after.

A good example is Henryk Kampa. He has been living in the Netherlands for twenty years and originally started working in the agricultural sector. He has now been part of Metalwire’s technical services team for several years. His story illustrates how crucial language and support can be: “Without language, you can’t grow,” he says.

Working together for the future

During the visit, Minister Van Hijum spoke with our team, the municipality and other involved partners. We discussed the importance of ongoing investment in guidance, cultural awareness and long-term perspective. Because as an employer, you can truly make a difference.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made together with our colleagues and grateful for the opportunity to share our approach.