Omscholing en wederaanpassing van ex-mijnwerkers

Abstract

The tenthousands workers who are still employed in the mining industry are very much involved in the further closing of the coal mines. For alternative employment away from the mines, a planned reschooling program is essential. When selecting candidates for each of the reschooling courses all those data are collected from superiors, personnel services, psychological and medical staff, which may be relevant to a man's reschooling program and further employment. In general terms all ex-mining staff such as technical, administrative, supervisory or subordinate adjust well to employment in unrelated industries. Results of reschooling are, so far, very favourable, and hereby we specifically include the "older" workers. The latter are personally highly motivated as society and industry were of the preconceived opinion that older people would be difficult to change over to other types of work. This last point is subject to intensive study these days, and there are indications that reality is quite different and varied and that older workers have been very much prejudiced against. Experience with miners has contributed to the studies mentioned. The closure of the mines and the re-industrialization of the mining region of Southern Limburg has not only created serious problems for thousands of workers, but has especially affected those that were handicapped, physically or mentally, which can be due to physical/psychological conditions or age. Realization of these handicaps by employers and the studies thereof can lead to results that reach further than the mere re-employment of ex-miners. Anyone providing selective and adjusted employment can benefit from what has been learned in Southern Limburg.