Netherlands : the 36-hour workweek about to disappear

e conventions allowing employees to exchange days off against better wages. (Ref. 070328)

For many years unions have disapproved of this nonetheless widespread practice. Astonishingly, the police were the first to start by allowing in 2001 its officers to work 38 to 40 hours a week with corresponding wage increases. The iron and steel sector followed with a system of overtime. Whereas the unions first made sure workers could not work more than 3 or 4 days overtime a year, the figure now stands a