Netherlands: tripartite talks to shorten the work week to avoid mass layoffs

Union and employers' organizations as well as the government are having talks behind closed doors to face the risk of mass layoffs because of the economic crisis. Reducing working time for all (36 hour work week) would be one of the safest ways to prevent dismissals, the Het Financieele Dagblad economic daily wrote on November 7, 2008. (Ref. 080871)
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The Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV)
agrees with this defensive reduction of working time, which would only be temporary.
Its largest member, FNV Bondgenoten, active in the industry, would like this
system to profit agency workers and employees with a fixed-term contract. Employees
would receive unemployment compensation up to 70% of the loss of earning
resulting from the reduction of working time in the company. Employers would
pay for the remaining 30%. This should be a very quick reform, b

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