Positive action policy for ethnic minorities in the netherlands

In contrast to the UK and the US, positive action for ethnic minorities is a relatively new issue in the Netherlands. Currently, there is much lively debate about the social policy concerning positive action programmes and the legal forms these programmes should take. In order to take an active role in shaping the public policy debate, two studies were conducted; the first study is concerned with the opinion of the Dutch population and the second with the opinion of managers in public sector companies. Both studies show that in general there is agreement with positive action policies, but that people object to the consequences of these policies when they imply preferential treatment.