The unemployment benefit systems were established at quite different times in the various European countries. In the new Member States, these systems are a fairly recent phenomenon. In some countries, the role of employees and employers in the system has remained of major importance, while in others
In August 2004, the Netherlands' three main trade union federations launched a programme of protest action against government policy on a variety of issues, notably early retirement and lifelong leave arrangements. The planned action includes a strike on 21 September.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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