van het Kaar, Robbert
Netherlands: Social and Economic Council proposes changes to unemployment financing
21 May 2015
The tripartite Social and Economic Council has unanimously agreed guidelines aimed at securing a sustainable labour market in the Netherlands. The guidelines propose changes to the financing of the unemployment benefit system.
Netherlands: New Act on work and security
23 December 2014
The Netherlands’ new Act on Work and Security will change employment and dismissal law. The aim is to create a new balance between ‘insiders’ – permanent employees who have high levels of protection – and ‘outsiders’, flexible workers who have little or no protection. The act was passed in July 2014 and comes into force in 2015.
Netherlands: Pensions advice to clear up confusion
17 December 2014
Conflicting laws have led to confusion in the Netherlands over how much influence works councils can have on company pension arrangements. The Social and Economic Council (SER) suggested ways of clarifying this in June, after being asked for its advice by the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Jetta Klijnsma.
Netherlands: New legislation on management pay
22 October 2014
The entry into force of the Clawback Act at the start of 2014 in the Netherlands makes possible the reduction of executive bonuses and severance payments, and the reclaiming of payments ('clawback') after they have been awarded, if they are deemed unfair. It applies to all public limited companies, financial enterprises and cooperatives. While the act does not introduce new clawback rights as such, it does make existing rights more explicit.
Collective bargaining developments marked by stability
19 February 2014
At the end of 2013, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in the
Netherlands (SZW [1]) published its annual report [2] on collective
agreements in the country. The report covers developments in collective
agreements in the Netherlands in 2012 and, where information is available, in
2013.
[1] http://www.government.nl/ministries/szw
[2] http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/rapporten/2013/12/02/rapportage-cao-afspraken-2012.html
Changes to works councils law affect training budget
16 December 2013
The Works Councils Act (WOR [1]) was first enacted in 1950. There have been
seven major revisions of the act since it first came into force (*NL9709130F*
[2]). An eighth revision has been made this year, 15 years after the last
significant changes, and came into force on 19 July 2013.
[1] http://www.or.nl/entree/wenrteksten/wor.html
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/amendment-of-the-dutch-works-councils-act-a-few-surprises
Social partners debate collective agreement system
05 December 2013
In the Netherlands, successive governments and parliaments have generally
supported the collective bargaining system. However, there are some worries
that falling union membership might compromise the legitimacy of collective
agreements in the future.
Major changes afoot for biggest union federation
14 July 2013
Key decisions were taken about the structure of the biggest employee
organisation in the Netherlands, the Dutch Trade Federation (FNV [1]) which
has 1.3 million members, at a conference held on 8 and 9 October 2012.
[1] http://www.fnv.nl/english
Labour law changes to stamp out illegal employment
26 February 2012
A requirement for temporary employment agencies to hold an operating permit
was scrapped in 1998. In the thirteen years since then, the number of
temporary employment agencies has multiplied, especially those that are
involved with illegal workers. For some time, the social partners have been
calling for stricter supervision and heavier sanctions for illegal practices.
New life-sciences park saves hundreds of research jobs
21 December 2011
On 21 June 2011, it was announced that agreement had been reached between
global pharmaceuticals company Merck [1] and the Dutch government to retain
some of the jobs at the research centre of its subsidiary Organon, based at
Oss in the Netherlands. The agreement includes the establishment of a
life-sciences park to employ the 540 researchers who will be dismissed from
Merck. Of the remaining researchers, 100 will join Merck’s production team
and 486 will remain in service.
[1] http://www.merck.com