After the social partners did not reach agreement on this issue, in mid-October the Dutch government announced its plan to increase the state pension age from 65 to 67, in two steps. Those aged 55 or older before 1 January 2010 keep their current rights, but for those born 1955 or older from 2020 on the retirement age will be 66, to be lifted in 2025 to 67 for those born 1960 or later. Moreover, employers will have to take steps to ensure staff does not perform 'heavy' jobs for more than 30 years or pay them an extra pension for two years. FNV, the main union confederation, remains opposed to the plans and plans to mobilise its membership for demonstrations, whereas the smaller CNV and MHP confederations are willing to give in. FNV notably questions the practicality of the plans, and already broke off talks with the main employers' association on drawing up a definition of 'heavy jobs'.
English: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/10/union_ .
Dutch: various newspaper messages; http://home.szw.nl/index.cfm?menu_item_id=16365 .
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