Netherlands: ‘minimum’ social agreement

On April 12, the talks between the trade unions, government and employers on social reforms to undertake as part of the 2014 budget led to a social agreement.  The deal mostly postpones major reforms to October via the coalition agreement between the socialist and liberal parties in power.  Layoff pay and the Layoff Act will not be reformed before 2016.  (Ref.  130247)
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The media are accusing the VVD liberal party, driven by current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, of giving in to the PVDA Labor Party with which they have been governing since September. But unions and employers are happy. They secured concessions on points they viewed as key: unemployment compensation should go from 38 down to 24 months but nothing will change before (if!) growth comes back, supposedly in 2016. In that case, employees will still receive a State allowance for two years and an alte

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