van het Kaar, Robbert
Employers and government propose industrial relations reform
30 August 2004
In July 2004, the Dutch government and the VNO-NCW employers' confederation
published separate documents calling for a variety of changes to current
employment law and industrial relations practices, aimed at improved economic
growth and competitiveness. The proposals cover areas such as pay trends,
minimum wages, the extension of collective agreements, employee invovlement,
working time and social security. While the government and employers have
similar views on numerous points, their emphasis differs in some areas.
Reactions from the trade union movement to the proposals have been very
critical.
Changes ahead in employee involvement legislation
03 August 2004
In June 2004, the Dutch government announced that works councils legislation
was to be made more flexible and issued proposals for reform, on which the
social partners disagree. Changes are also to be made to the rules giving
works councils influence over the appointment of members of company
supervisory boards. Meanwhile, parliament is debating legislation to
implement EU Directives on information and consultation and on employee
involvement in the European Company Statute.
Report examines current developments in collective agreements
29 Juuli 2004
In June 2004, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate published its spring report on
collective agreements. The report focuses on a number of issues that are
currently highly topical in debate between the government and social
partners. It finds that wage increases have fallen away sharply in 2004,
while the number of collective agreements containing provisions on flexible
remuneration, flexible pensions, reintegration measures for partly disabled
employees and employability has increased over recent years.
Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts
07 Juuli 2004
In March 2004, the EIRO national centres in 24 European countries were asked,
in response to a questionnaire, to give a brief overview of their country's
system for dealing with individual labour/employment disputes through the
courts, along with data on: the volume of cases; the costs; the timeframe;
alternatives to going to court; and any current debate on these issues. The
Dutch responses are set out below (along with the questions asked).
Employees' rights and position in bankruptcies - latest developments
03 Juuni 2004
The number of bankruptcies declared in the Netherlands reached a record high
in 2003, and questions have been raised in parliament over the potential
misuse of bankruptcies to the detriment of creditors and employees. This
article looks at recent developments in legislation and case law on
employees' rights and position in the event of their employer's bankruptcy.
Most employers positive about extension of collective agreements
30 Märts 2004
Research published in December 2003 finds that most Dutch employers favour
the extension of sector-wide collective agreements (ie to cover non-signatory
employers within the sector). However, a sizeable minority would expect
benefits from switching over to company-level collective agreements.
Recently, a growing number of employers seem to be seeking actively to escape
their obligations arising from extended sectoral collective agreements, by
signing separate agreements with non-mainstream trade unions.
Bargaining under the central wage freeze
30 Märts 2004
A central tripartite agreement signed in the Netherlands in autumn 2003
imposes a pay freeze for 2004. This agreement is casting a shadow over the
2004 collective bargaining round, and trade unions are seeking to test the
limits of the wage freeze. This article looks at developments in the
bargaining round up to March 2004,
SER proposes new system of occupational health services
08 Märts 2004
In February 2004, the Netherlands' tripartite Social and Economic Council
(SER) issued an opinion, recommending a new system of organising occupation
health services in companies. It proposes allowing companies to opt out of
using external services, by agreement with trade unions or employee
representatives.
Minimum wage trends examined
01 Märts 2004
The Dutch government has announced that the statutory minimum wage will not
be increased in 2004, following agreement with the social partners on a
general pay freeze. This article examines the government decision, as well as
looking at related issues such as the effects on social security benefits,
minimum wage rates for young people, compliance and the relationship between
the statutory minimum wage and the minimum wages specified in collective
agreements.
Pay freeze agreed for 2004-5
28 Oktoober 2003
In October 2003, the Dutch government and social partners agreed on a
comprehensive set of measures to confront the current economic recession. One
of the key measures is a freeze in collectively agreed wages during 2004 and
2005, in exchange for the government dropping a number of cost-cutting plans.
Recent figures from the Labour Inspectorate indicate that pay increases have
already slowed considerably in 2003.