The Government approved sweeping changes for foreign workers employment rules drawing praise from employers but fierce criticism from trade unions who threatened possible industrial action. The new framework allows employers to deduct up to 25% of foreign workers’ gross wages for accommodation up from 10% previously, provided housing meets specified standards. It also permits workers to move between an employer’s facilities within the same province. The Labour Minister said the reforms were necessary given the strong economic growth, with unemployment at 5% and employment rates approaching 80%. The unions sharply criticised the timing of the decision. According to the unions, the Government has clearly sided with employers at workers’ expense.
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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.
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