Conflict between Government and trade unions over a labour market legislation that would make it easier to fire employees who work in small firms escalated steadily this autumn resulting in strikes and other forms of industrial action (see our October newsletter). The unrest seems to be over for now as Government, unions and the private sector have reached an agreement on the new bill. It is believed that the government took back proposed rules that would make it easier for firms employing fewer than 20 persons to fire workers. Government now proposes that the courts consider the size of a business when deciding dismissal cases. If this means an end to industrial action remains unsure as union members still have to vote on the agreement.
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For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers or Sanne van der Gaag, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) cbn-aias@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Willy De Backer wdebacker@etui.org © ETUI