Netherlands: plan to index pensions on stock market prices

Dutch pension funds exposed themselves to risks of a market crash by massively investing into shares and obligations on different stock markets: funded pension schemes reached 86% before the financial crisis at the end of 2008, as opposed to 40% in 2000.  None of the large Dutch pension funds (out of a total of 600) reaches the minimum coverage rate of its commitments anymore, which the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) sets at 105%.  As a result, one of the biggest pension funds in the world, the Dutch civil servants pension scheme (Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds, ABP), which takes care of supplementary pension for 2.8 million former civil servants in the Netherlands, announced that pensions would be cut in 2011.  The incomes of 150,000 other beneficiaries from 14 pension schemes will also be cut next year, between 1 and 14%.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

s pension scheme (Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds, ABP), which takes care of supplementary pension for 2.8 million former civil servants in the Netherlands, announced that pensions would be cut in 2011. The incomes of 150,000 other beneficiaries from 14 pension schemes will also be cut next year, between 1 and 14%.

Instead of changing the funding policy of these funds, which pay with employees’ money (mandatory contributions), Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Piet Hein Donner propos

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
France: wage increases set to fall in 2026
Despite expectations of higher inflation next year – 1.8% compared with 1.3% in 2025 according to the OFCE, the French observatory of economic cycles – wage increases are set to slow...
18 November 2025
France: Adecco steps up commitment to temporary workers with disabilities
On 9 September, temporary work agency Adecco France and representative trade unions signed a new open-ended agreement to support the recruitment and retention of temporary workers with...
18 November 2025
Germany: report previews draft bill to transpose EU Pay Transparency Directive
On Friday 7 November, Germany’s commission for a 'less bureaucratic implementation' of the EU Pay Transparency Directive — made up of employer and trade union representatives — submitted its...
17 November 2025
South Korea: government tightens sanctions for unpaid wages
A law passed on 22 October 2024 — and effective from 23 October — toughens penalties for employers that fail to pay wages on time. In cases of “manifestly intentional”...
17 November 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
France: TotalEnergies steps up commitment on disability
On 9 October, French energy group TotalEnergies and all representative trade unions signed a new four-year agreement on disability inclusion. Taking effect on 1 January 2026, the deal aims to help...
6
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...