Parliament approved a labour reform bill that allows employees to opt for a longer working day in exchange for time off, a measure that has sparked strikes and protests by trade unions. The bill passed by 158 votes in the 300-seat parliament after lengthy debate in which all opposition parties blasted it. The unions had pressed the government to withdraw the bill, saying it would reverse long-established workers’ rights and allow companies to bring in longer hours through the backdoor. The most disputed part of the legislation allows employees to work up to 10 hours on one day and less time on another. Unions fear this will enable employers to force workers to accept longer hours.
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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu.
You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.