EIROnlineThe European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) is a monitoring instrument offering news and analysis on European industrial relations. Its aim is to collect, analyse and disseminate high-quality and up-to-date information on key developments in industrial relations in Europe. It aims primarily to serve the needs of national and European level organisations of the social partners, governmental organisations and EU institutions.Parliamentary balance swings in favour of left-wing after elections- January 15, 2007 Parliamentary elections held on 22 November 2006 in the Netherlands have significantly changed the political balance. Right-wing parties have been weakened by the elections, while the left has been strengthened. The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers responded cautiously to the election outcome; the Dutch Trade Union Federation expects the outcome to reinforce socially oriented politics in the Netherlands.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/nl0612019i.html Trade unions give mixed response to plans to simplify law on dismissals- January 9, 2007 The election manifesto of the Christian Democratic Alliance includes plans to simplify dismissals legislation. This has prompted a mixed response from the Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) and the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV). The CNV has rejected the plan outright, while the FNV now accepts some of the proposals. The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, which is in favour of a more flexible dismissals law, has welcomed the FNVs recent willingness to negotiate.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/nl0611039i.html Union federations seek to exclude trade union from collective bargaining process- January 9, 2007 Both the Dutch Trade Union Federation and the Christian Trade Union Federation in the metalworking sector are seeking to exclude their fellow negotiator, the De Unie trade union, from collective bargaining rounds. In particular, the two trade union federations disapprove of De Unies concluding collective agreements, to which they themselves cannot agree. Moreover, De Unies representativeness is under question in the sectors where it has concluded independent collective labour agreements.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/nl0611029i.html Call for anonymity in job applications to counter discrimination- January 9, 2007 In the autumn of 2006, the chair of the Social and Economic Council expressed his support for the idea of anonymous job applications, in an effort to further diversify the workforce and to combat discrimination against ethnic minorities and older workers. A pilot project in relation to anonymous job applications is currently being monitored in one municipality. In addition, the Labour Party has submitted a plan of action containing proposals directed at activating diversity policy. While the...http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/nl0611019i.html Union advocates better social security cover for self-employed- January 9, 2007 The Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) is attempting to close gaps in social security by negotiating with insurance companies on collective pensions and occupational disability insurance schemes for self-employed individuals without staff. FNV is also urging politicians to ensure that legislation, such as the new pensions act, takes self-employed workers without staff into account. As many as 50% of such workers do not appear to have taken out any pension andor occupational disability...http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/nl0611059i.html Increasing womens labour market participation through childcare provision- January 4, 2007 The issue of childcare facilities for children featured prominently in the pre-election campaigns of November 2006. Almost all of the major political parties proposed some form of basic day care facility; even the Dutch Trade Union Federation put forward its own proposal. Increasing the level of womens participation in the labour market is an important motivating factor in this context. The proposals have been made against the background of recent studies, which show that career prospects have..http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/nl0611049i.html |