The Dutch parliament wants to question Social Affairs Minister Henk Kamp after a court in The Hague ruled that vocational students (MBO), who are not legal residents of the Netherlands, are entitled to an internship.

Minister Kamp disagrees with the court and earlier came into conflict with the Amsterdam Labour alderman Lodewijk Asscher, who twittered on Wednesday, “Court confirms: internship is education! A constitutional right for all children. I’m certain Kamp will soon retract his suggestion that I break the law.”

MPs from the Labour Party (PvdA), the Christian Democrats (CDA), Democrats D66 and the Green Left now want to hear what Minister Kamp plans to do. A spokesman for the Social Affairs Ministry announced that Kamp will examine the court’s ruling and then decide whether or not to file an appeal.

Minister Kamp recently clashed with Amsterdam’s city council, which allows illegal vocational students to work as interns. Kamp said that Amsterdam was violating the law because illegals are not allowed to work. Minister Kamp had originally threatened to fine the city.

(dcf/hs)

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