Workplace Report February 2020

European news

It’s double pay cheer at Heineken, Netherlands


Unions have agreed a 7.5% pay increase for workers at Heineken in the Netherlands, paid in stages. 


The agreement runs for two years from the start of 2020 until the end of 2021: a 3.75% increase backdated to January this year and a second increase, also of 3.75%, in January 2021. This year’s increase is more than twice the current rate of inflation, which was 1.8% in January. 


The settlement, which covers 2,500 workers, also allows workers aged 60 and over and within a year of retirement to reduce their working time to 60% of the previous level, while retaining 80% of their previous pay and 100% of the pension contribution from the employer.