WW rights when staying abroad | Legal aid centre

Questioner

What are my unemployment rights if I go abroad for a while (6 - 12 months) (Curacao)? This concerns a situation in which I do not yet receive unemployment benefits but will probably be eligible (determination agreement). So I am still employed but I am thinking about taking a sabbatical for a while if I really have to leave to get some distance and recharge.

Lawyer

If you are abroad on the first WW day, then you are not entitled to WW. You will not receive any benefits. Curacao does not count towards the right to WW. Only the European part of NL is relevant for this. In principle, when you return to the Netherlands, you are entitled to unemployment benefits, but: 1. you must meet the weekly requirement at that time (26 out of 39); 2. the UWV will check whether you are (have been) available for the labour market If you go abroad for six months before your unemployment benefit starts, you will have a major problem with regard to your entitlement to unemployment benefits.