The Labour parliamentary party has submitted a proposal for draft law which allows illegal aliens following intermediate vocational education to do apprenticeships.

The move comes after the municipality of Amsterdam clashed with the conservative government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte over the issue. The cabinet argues that illegal immigrants are not allowed to do apprenticeships because these are a form a work and illegal immigrants are not allowed to work.

Earlier this week, Amsterdam Labour Finances and Economy Alderman Lodewijk Asscher defended the capital’s position on the matter saying apprenticeships are a mandatory part of the intermediate vocational curriculum. Children whose requests for a residence permit are still being reviewed should be able to complete their education in the meantime.

(cl)

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