Thousands of people took part in union-led protests to push for progress in talks between the Government and the business sector to reduce working hours amid pushback from employers concerned about a rise in costs. To address employers’ concerns, the Government has proposed a hiring bonus for small businesses to offset the costs associated with maintaining service levels despite reduced working hours. However, business owners remain skeptical, fearing a decline in productivity and increased labour costs. While the Government seeks a consensus, it has indicated its willingness to implement the reduction unilaterally before the end of 2024. The proposed plan would calculate working hours on an annual basis, offering flexibility for sectors like hospitality where adjusting shifts can be challenging.
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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.