The salaries of senior staff working for universities, public broadcasters, the arts sector and hospitals should be placed under strict government control, according to a cabinet commission chaired by former Liberal (VVD) leader Hans Dijkstal.

The commission’s recommendations, published in the Volkskrant on Wednesday, include three options.
Under the toughest regime, semi-public sector bosses would get the same salary ceiling as top civil servants. Civil servants are only allowed to earn more than the prime minister’s €171,000 pay package in special circumstances.
In the second option, which could apply to independent bodies like the Dutch central bank and financial sector watchdog AFM, a proper salary structure would have to be drawn up for ministerial approval.
In the third scenario, organisations that are publicly funded but not under government control – such as housing corporations – would be required to make top salaries public.
The high salaries paid to some university and energy company bosses have angered MPs.
Today’s Volkskrant reports that two college directors and 18 university chiefs earned more than the prime minister in 2006.
Top of the list was Utrecht University rector Willem Hendrik Gispen who was paid €160,000 plus €151,000 in pension contributions. Jos Elbers of the InHolland college group earned €200,000 plus €183,000 in pension rights, the paper says.