An investigation conducted in the summer of 1997 by the Labour Inspectorate in the Netherlands has revealed that the conditions under which young temporary and holiday workers are employed leave much to be desired.
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An investigation conducted in the summer of 1997 by the Labour Inspectorate in the Netherlands has revealed that the conditions under which young temporary and holiday workers are employed leave much to be desired.
Over the summer of 1997, within the scope of its national project on young people's holiday work, 2,400 companies were visited by inspectors from the Labour Inspectorate (Arbeidsinspectie), which is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The companies concerned are primarily active in the restaurant and catering sector, retail trade, recreation, agriculture and the food and drink industry. During these visits, the inspectors investigated the extent to which employers paid attention to the dangers facing young holiday workers with respect to machinery and transport, physically demanding work, unhealthy working postures and working at elevated levels.
Working condition violations concerning holiday workers were found in approximately 300 of the companies. The most common violations related to excessive working hours, too few breaks and overly high levels of responsibility. These findings confirm complaints received by the holiday jobs line set up by the youth secretariat of the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV). Moreover, it was found that most of the companies fail to conduct the required risk inventory and risk evaluation, while very few separate agreements or provisions seem to exist concerning the protection of holiday workers.
In addition to unacceptable working conditions, young holiday workers do not always qualify for the youth minimum wage. This wage applies only to workers of at least 15 years of age. The collective agreements for both the flower bulb and horticultural industries include 13- and 14-year olds in the group eligible for the youth minimum wage. However, these are the only collective agreements with such provisions. Attempts are currently being made to develop a protocol on this issue which is intended to supplement collective agreements.
Light duties performed by 13- and 14-year olds are not restricted to holiday periods. The extension of opening hours for supermarkets has resulted in an increased demand for young temporary workers (including 13- and 14-year olds). Employers welcome temporary workers of this age because, at least for the time being, the collective agreement for supermarkets does not specify a minimum wage. In theory, this leaves employers free to pay whatever they please. Indeed, this would appear to conflict with the supplementary regulations on child labour based on Section 5:3 of the Working Hours Act. These regulations allow 13- and 14-year olds to perform "duties in and around the house" and "in the neighbourhood" on schooldays. On days off, they may perform "light duties of a non-industrial nature". The increase in the number of young workers in supermarkets has not escaped consumer criticism either, and there have been complaints about a decrease in the level of service.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1997), Holiday job working conditions largely unsafe, article.
