Dutch talks end in breakdown


Unions and employers in the Netherlands have been unable to reach agreement on new rules covering a range of employment issues.


Negotiations have been going on for months after the government asked the two sides if they could come to an agreement. However, these negoitaitions finally collapsed at the beginning of September.


This was a major disappointment for the unions for whom the talks offered the potential to provide workers with greater employment security and reduce the use of flexible working. 


Hans Busker, head of the FNV, the largest union confederation in the country, said that it had proved impossible “to reach agreements with the employers on making it more attractive to recruit people on permanent contracts and to abolish unfair payroll structures”. 


His colleague Maurice Limmen, head of the smaller CNV confederation, said: “This is bad news, not just for employees but for everyone who cares for the stability of our society.”