The proposed adjustment of the 30% facility for expats from 8 to 5 years without a transitional period could have a detrimental effect on the tech sector in the Netherlands. This is the conclusion of an article published by Bloomberg News last October 3. AmCham Executive Director Patrick Mikkelsen in the article points out that the Dutch "startup and tech sectors rely heavily on foreign workers, as companies look to universities outside the Netherlands for young talent, and recruit more experienced workers from their competitor companies based in Silicon Valley or around the world." The market for highly skilled workers is a global one. Patrick Mikkelsen also remarks that the stable and reliable government has always been a pull factor of the Netherlands, for foreign companies and workers. In the coming months, both Parliament and Senate will have to vote to approve the proposal in its current form. Despite major resistance against the proposal, there still is a majority support for the proposed reduction from 8 to 5 years without a transitional arrangement.
