Dutch metal workers reach rapid settlement

Unions and employers in the Netherlands have reached a rapid settlement for the around 150,000 employees in the metal and electrical industries. The agreement, which in 2021 took five months of disputes to achieve, was signed this year after just two rounds of negotiations. It runs for 18 months, from 1 December 2022 to 31 May 2024, and it includes two-staged pay increases of 5.5% in December 2022 and 3.5% in January 2024. In addition, during the period of the agreement employers will contribute €60 a month into the pension fund, an amount previously contributed by employees, and equivalent to a further 2% pay increase. Inflation in the Netherlands is currently 14.5% (September).