Netherlands : focus on the temporary reduction of working hours scheme due to credit crisis

Due to the credit crisis the Dutch government has created a special reduction of working hours scheme (werktijdverkorting, or WTV in short, see our article 080934). This will enable companies who suffer an acute loss of turnover due to the credit crisis to submit a request for a temporary reduction of working hours for their staff. Claudia Mangal, from the Loyen & Loeff law firm, resumes this system which was implemented on a temporary basis and as an emergency and which could be extended in 2009. (Ref. 081049)
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What does this mean exactly ? With a reduction of working hours permit an employer can rely on the unemployment insurance scheme for the non-worked hours. The employer will then receive unemployment benefit for the employee for whom reduction of working hours has been granted, amounting to the number of hours for which reduction of working hours has been granted. Subsequently the employer will continue to pay the agreed salary to the employee concerned as usual. The number of employees for whom

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