Flexible labour contracts are making working in the healthcare sector increasingly unpopular, according to research by the Abvakabo public sector workers’ union.

Some 61% of nearly 900 people questioned by the union say the rise in flexible contracts has made the sector less attractive as an employer. And almost half say the lack of security attached to a flexible contract has made them consider leaving the health service altogether.
Abvakabo wants to include a commitment to reduce the number of variable and call-out contracts in the sector’s next pay and conditions agreement.
In May, the national statistics office CBS said almost one in five workers in the Netherlands has some form of flexible employment contract.