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The Dutch Trade Union Federation (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging, FNV [1]), the Christian Trade Union Federation (Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond, CNV [2]) and the Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions (Middelbaar en Hoger Personeel, MHP) believe that the recovering Dutch
After a year and a half of preparation, in September 2006, the Social and Economic Council (Sociaal-Economische Raad, SER [1]) presented a recommendation for the medium term, entitled ‘Welfare growth by and for everyone’. In its recommendation, SER gives priority to employment growth as the best
In the summer of 2006, the State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment, Henk van Hoof, opened up a total of 21 economic sectors to employees from the 10 new Member States (NMS), which joined the EU in May 2004. Mr Van Hoof removed certain restrictions from five sectors in May 2006 and another
In its medium-term recommendation, drafted in July 2006, the Social and Economic Council (Sociaal-Economische Raad, SER [1]) – the main advisory body to the Dutch government and the parliament on national and international social and economic policy – emphasises the importance of individual rights
In 2005, the Childcare Act stipulated that parents, the government and employers would each pay one third of childcare costs. An agreement was then made with employer organisations and trade unions that, in 2008, up to 90% of all employees would be reimbursed by their employer for a third of these
A coalition of employee and employer representatives has spoken out in favour of the privatisation of unemployment benefits. In their manifesto – which leading players in public administration and, in particular, in the social security administration, have signed – the representatives argue in
The European Commission had asked the Netherlands to reveal its plans by 1 May 2006 for the lifting of national restrictions on the free movement of workers [1] from the eight new central and eastern European Member States: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia
In 2005, a total of 28 strikes were held, resulting in the loss of 42 work days. There were twice as many strikes in 2005 than in 2004, which represents the highest number of strikes since 1991. However, fewer days were lost due to strikes in 2005 than in 2004. One in three strikes was related to
In the course of the consultation between the government and the social partners in the autumn of 2005, the Dutch Trade Union Federation (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging, FNV [1]) decided to place the issue of training opportunities for young people with a low level of education at the top of