Mariëlle PaulMinister of Social Affairs and Employment
Born on 5 November 1966 in Geldrop.
Party: People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
Work is more than just a job: it’s a source of satisfaction, a social network and the key to a better future. A good salary, the opportunity for personal development and certainty are important factors in this regard. Together with employers, employees and trade unions, I want to ensure that everyone in the Netherlands can take part fully in the labour market.
General socioeconomic policy and budget policy
Income policy
Socioeconomic security, purchasing power
Employee insurance (and following up the recommendations of the independent commission on the future of the incapacity insurance system (OCTAS))
Labour market policy (including labour relations, termination of employment, labour migration and discrimination)
Pension system
International matters
Coordinating minister for the Working on Implementation (WAU) programme – Agenda for the simplification of income support
Netherlands Labour Authority, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the Benefits Intelligence Agency
Coordinating the follow-up to the parliamentary committee of inquiry into Fraud Policy and Public Services
Winding down coronavirus pandemic-related measures
5 September 2025
Appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Schoof government
2 July 2024 – 5 september 2025
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Equal Opportunities in the Schoof government
6 December 2023 – 2 July 2024
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD
21 July 2023 – 2 July 2024
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education in the fourth Rutte government
March 2021 – July 2023
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD; party spokesperson on primary and secondary education and the childcare benefit redress process, chair of the permanent parliamentary committee on Kingdom relations and of the temporary parliamentary committee reviewing coronavirus policy
April 2017 – March 2021
Global Communications Director, Royal BAM Group
October 2016 – March 2017
Sabbatical, freelance consultant, member of the 2017 parliamentary election campaign team of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD
May 2015 – September 2016
Interim Global Communications Director, Porticus
May 2013 – April 2015
Corporate & Sales Communications Director, Sanoma Media
2004 – 2013
Various management roles in marketing, communications and HR, ABN AMRO
March 2000 – August 2004
Co-owner and consultant, Principal Communications
November 1999 – March 2000
Marketing & Communications Director, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
March 1997 – November 1999
Group Director for Corporate Communications, Hill & Knowlton Strategies
May 1991 – March 1997
Various positions, including management roles, British Petroleum
2020 – 2023
Member of the supervisory board, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
2017 – 2021
Deputy chair of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD, focusing on recruitment and retention of members
2016 – 2018
Member of the permanent campaign committee of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD. Jointly responsible for organising campaign activities for the 2017 parliamentary elections and active campaigner.
2010 – 2013
Volunteer, ABN AMRO Foundation
2009 – 2010
Course for aspiring housing association supervisors, including a one-year work placement on the supervisory board of Elan Wonen, Haarlem
2007 – 2016
Cofounder of the Hill & Knowlton alumni organisation (‘Stay Connected’)
2004 – 2008
Member of the communications strategy committee, Association of Certified Mortgage Advisers (SEH)
1991 – 1996
Member of the advisory and supervisory board of the Professor B.M. Telders debating society
