Netherlands: FNV union wants to tackle abusive use of youth minimum wage in supermarkets

Dutch supermarkets currently employ 260,000 people, i.e. 40,000 more than in 2009, according to the FNV.  This increase is artificial, due to the massive employment of young people working part time and paid less.  Indeed, labor law allows paying digressive minimum wage for young workers (jeugdloon) for people aged 15 to 23, ranging between €427 and €1,424 depending on age (to view detailed chart, go to http://www.st-ab.nl/normwml.htm).  A lot of young people work in the Netherlands: in 2009, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) registered that no less than 32% of the 15-23 age group had an odd job for less than 12 hours a week, and 20% worked more.  Massive appeal to young people seems to be even more common at the Albert Heijn chain store, where employees aged 19 would be driven to leave or see their contracts end, according to the FNV.  The union says this is “age discrimination” and wants to negotiate measures to abolish this method in the next collective agreement.  Besides, the FNV is fighting to change the law and lower the age for entitlement to “normal” minimum wage to 18, saving minimum wage for young people for underage workers only.
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entral Bureau of Statistics (CBS) registered that no less than 32% of the 15-23 age group had an odd job for less than 12 hours a week, and 20% worked more. Massive appeal to young people seems to be even more common at the Albert Heijn chain store, where employees aged 19 would be driven to leave or see their contracts end, according to the FNV. The union says this is “age discrimination” and wants to negotiate measures to abolish this method in the next collective agreement. Besides, the F

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