Netherlands: draft reform to let businesses derogate from collective agreements when they have problems

The goal is to avoid bankruptcies with the recession announced for 2012.  The point is to make sure that the weakest businesses are not bound by the sectoral agreements negotiated annually.  The Minister explained that they should notably be allowed to overrule agreements on early retirement to reduce their number if the economic situation demands it.  Christian-democratic MP Eddy van Heijum, who specializes in social issues, also told the Het Financieele Dagblad economic daily that the 2.5% increases negotiated for 2011 and 2012 as part of collective agreements could be hard to enforce for employers.  Unions are rejecting this plan, on which the Social Affairs Minister is going to work for the next few weeks before presenting the details.  Unions believe employers and unions have are free to review the agreements already negotiated if need be.
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2.5% increases negotiated for 2011 and 2012 as part of collective agreements could be hard to enforce for employers. Unions are rejecting this plan, on which the Social Affairs Minister is going to work for the next few weeks before presenting the details. Unions believe employers and unions have are free to review the agreements already negotiated if need be.

Planet Labor, November 29, 2011, No. 110736 – www.planetlabor.com

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