Hospital agreement in the Netherlands

Unions and employers have reached agreement on a new pay settlement for hospital staff. The deal, which is backdated to 1 July 2021, runs for 19 months, and provides for a 2% increase overall with a minimum monthly increase of €90, guaranteeing a minimum hourly rate of €13. There are also improvements in other pay supplements which particularly benefit staff in direct contact with patients. Overall, FNV, the main union involved, estimates that around three-quarters of the 200,000 hospital staff affected will see their pay rise by more than 2%.

The deal has been backed by the Netherlands’ two largest union confederations, FNV and CNV, but the smaller NU’91 union, which represents nurses, has rejected it, arguing that with inflation running at 6.4% (January) the pay increase is too low. However, 70% of FNV members backed the deal in a ballot, so it is certain to go ahead.

€1= 83p on 24 February 2022