Stimulation of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISES) and Combatting Social Exclusion at the Local Level

Abstract

WISES are social enterprises that work with people marginalized from the regular labour market, including people with severe handicaps, with disabilities and those who suffer addiction and homelessness. WISES offer an alternative to regular social programs: they breach social exclusion and stimulate working within a regular business environment. De Omslag has set up the Amsterdam Platform of social firms in order to stimulate and support WISES at the local level by exchanging knowledge, experiences, linking networks, and facilitating B2B among WISES and between SME/larger companies and WISES. De Omslag has also worked with the municipality of Amsterdam to set up a policy that strengthens WISES. This has lead to a working plan adopted early 2015 by the city council, consisting amongst other things of an investment fund for WISES, public procurement for goods and services from WISES and other measures such as working with the social return provisions as well as other forms of non financial support.