Netherlands: FNV wants “labor policy” and an “update to the Finnish level”

On Friday, October 15th, the FNV responded to the announcement of the new government which, at the request of right-wing populist Geert Wilders, is going to launch a new special police unit, with 500 agents, to fight ill-treatment against animals.  The FNV is protesting, asking for a “worker police” to monitor the safety of Dutch employees, “in a country where 90 people die every year at work, 3,000 of work-related diseases and 25,000 people have occupational diseases, including 500 cancers because of asbestos,” reads a communiqué.  There aren’t enough inspections on the workplace, the FNV insists, reminding that there are barely over 300 labor inspectors in the country.  The union says this number should be double.  Yet, the new government, run by liberal Prime Minister Mark Rutte, 43, is proposing to drastically cut public spending – €18 billion a year – clear cuts that also target the labor inspectorate.  Today, businesses are likely to be controlled every 30 years, according to the federation.  Its counter-program developed in May, before the election of June 9th, is entitled “Finnish update” (Fit naar de finish).  It aims for better working conditions to preserve the health of employees, who are going to have to work until 66 in 2020.  The FNV’s program recommends, among other things, more flexible working time, more breaks, regular health reports after 45, heavier fines for businesses that violate Occupational and Safety Law (Arbowet), and at least one inspection every two years for all businesses, with a color grading system, from green to yellow, depending on the working conditions.