Outgoing minister Tamara van Ark (Medical Care) would choose to give everyone in the healthcare sector a care bonus, knowing that the bonus would then be lower than the previously proposed 500 euros. Earlier this week outlined she said to the House of Representatives her “dilemma” with regard to the care bonus: either give the care workers in the ‘front line’ of corona care 500 euros, or a bonus of 200 to 240 euros for all employees in the care sector.
In total, 3 billion euros has been budgeted for the health care bonuses. There is now 720 million euros left, because last year a bonus of 1,000 euros was available for healthcare workers. This was requested more than expected, which means that the ministry is now in trouble. That is why it is not possible to give everyone 500 euros and the House has to make choices, according to Van Ark.
But several parties also see a third option: make more money available for the care bonus. The SP and PvdA, among others, criticize the fact that the cabinet is pulling the wallet for support to KLM, for example, but that nothing can now be added. Van Ark argues that the cabinet will be caretaker after resigning because of the benefits affair and therefore cannot simply allocate extra money for the bonus scheme. In addition, the House has approved the budget, she says.
Van Ark does not like a bonus of 500 euros for all healthcare personnel. According to her, that would cost 765 million euros extra and that has not been budgeted. She also wants the House to make a decision quickly, so that implementation does not suffer unnecessary delays. As a result, healthcare workers can receive the bonus quickly after the corona care provided.
The House will vote on a motion on Tuesday, calling on all staff to still give 500 euros.
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