National government civil servants will have their pay frozen for the next two years because there is not enough money to fund an increase, home affairs minister Piet Hein Donner told unions on Monday.

The increase in pension premiums is also affecting government room to manoeuvre, the minister said in a statement. And he pointed out that civil service pay rose by 2% on average this year, and that the year-end bonus has been increased.
The minister also wants to lift the ban on night duty for the over-55s.
The unions have called for a 2% rise next year and want a moratorium on compulsory redundancies.
Negotiations on next year’s pay deal begin on Tuesday afternoon.