More flexibility in Netherlands

After a lengthy dispute an agreement has finally been reached covering the 400,000 employees in small engineering and metalworking establishments in the Netherlands. The deal signed last month provides for an 8.0% increase over 25 months as well as an annual bonus of Euro275, fairly close to the unions' demands.

In line with other Dutch agreements it gives employees greater control and flexibility in relation to their working lives. Workers cannot be obliged to work more than 10 hours' overtime over a four-week period and they can also "buy" an extra seven days of holiday, or "sell" them if the employer agrees. Inflation was running at 4.6% in March.

The 51,000 employees in the Dutch post office, including courier company TNT, get a 4.0% increase this year in a settlement running for 13 months from 1 April 2001. There is an extra 0.35% increase from 1 January 2002 plus a 0.75% increase in the profit sharing scheme. However, a series of difficult issues including a new pay structure and more flexible contracts have not been resolved and further discussions will take place on these.

The 15,000 employees in food wholesale and distribution also gain a 4.0% increase in pay from 1 April 2001 plus a 0.5% one-off payment. The agreement, which runs for 12 months, states for the first time that non-christian religious holidays should be treated in the same way as christian holidays in terms of paid time off and rostering.