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)
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

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

You are reading this article thanks to your trial period.
Explore new horizons by checking out our other verticals:
You are reading this article thanks to your subscription to Mind Retail.
Explore new horizons by checking out our other verticals:
Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Canada: a sustainability due diligence proposal on forced labour submitted for consultation
The facts. On July 27, the Canadian government launched a consultation to introduce mandatory corporate due diligence measures regarding forced labor. It plans to require risk identification, the...
25 August 2026
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...