Regulations regarding fixed-term employment contracts in the labor market will change significantly in the coming years. Zero-hour contracts will be banned, rules for temporary and agency work will be tightened, and the self-employed will have to insure themselves against disability.
Van Gennip, Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, writes to the House of Representatives that an agreement has been reached with the unions and employers.
The Socio-Economic Council and the Borstlap Committee had previously recommended that the cabinet intervene harshly in the labor market, otherwise the Netherlands would risk losing its customary high level of prosperity.
basic contract
940,000 people have on-call contracts in the Netherlands. The cabinet tightens the rules and wants more security for those who support a family. A so-called framework agreement should not only provide employees with greater financial security, but also greater program security. Students and students with a part-time job must continue to work with an on-call service.
Van Gennip also wants to put an end to the so-called revolving door constructions. Now employees have to go after three fixed-term contracts for six months and then they can come back. This term of office is now five years. The idea behind this is that employers are more likely to offer workers a permanent contract because of this arrangement.
Self-employed self-employed persons will have compulsory disability insurance to cover them in the event of a disability. Only one-fifth of more than 1.2 million self-employed people are insured against disability. The regulation should go into effect in 2027 and pass the UWV. Self-employed people who are already insured do not have to switch to the new system.
reduction of employees
Cabinet brings more security for employees as well as relaxations for employers. For example, companies with fewer than 100 employees will soon be able to replace a sick employee after a year, this currently only applies after two years.
There will also be a provision to protect staff if a crisis occurs that exceeds the company’s risk. Employees can then work elsewhere for up to six months, or work less while maintaining unemployment benefits. The ministry is still debating when something is entrepreneurial risk or not.
According to Minister Van Gennip, the package will mean people have more certainty about their incomes and schedules, and better protection for the self-employed in the event of a mishap. The Minister welcomes that important agreements have been reached with employers and employees. “Many workers and self-employed on flexible contracts are no longer insured.”
The changes are expected to be implemented in the next three to four years. Minister Van Gennip hopes the plans can pass the House of Representatives in the spring of 2024.
Source: NOS
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
