DutchNews.nl - Opposition grows to limit on temporary staff sick pay

Unions and employers are opposed to cabinet plans to cut the sick pay entitlement of staff on flexible contracts from two years to three months, the Volkskrant reports on Tuesday.

‘It is right to take measures to reduce absenteeism, but if flexible staff are going to be treated differently to people on permanent contracts, that will increase the difference between the two,’ Aart van der Gaag, head of the staffing agency association ABU told the paper.

Social affairs minister Henk Kamp plans to shake up sick pay laws from January next year. The change will mean only staff on a permanent contract would have the right to two years of sick pay.

The plan was part of the government agreement signed when the outgoing cabinet was put together in 2010 and adopted in the spring austerity talks agreed this year.

The upper house of parliament is due to vote on the plan in October. The Netherlands has around one million workers on temporary or flexible contracts.

Should employers pay two years of sick pay for temporary staff? Have your say using the comment form below.

Readers' Comments

It's a career path, get job, get perm contract, have burnout, take sick leave. Rinse & repeat.

By Dr Ponzi | 25 September 2012 10:56 AM

Should they? They don't now!! When you're on a flex contract, they can just make you redundant by saying there's no more work.

It happened to me, and even the FNV says they can get away with it...

Will the UWV pick up the slack (as it has done for me) or does the government intend to limit them as well? That's the big question...

By CW | 25 September 2012 1:31 PM

I don't know how the law is over here but when I had my business in the US my employes after six months ( part or full time)got both health ins and vacation; up to that time they were temporary and didn't have any benifits.Would I have wanted to pay for two years sick pay NO

By dee | 25 September 2012 1:52 PM

Gees, Aart sounds like a switched-on guy:

"..if flexible staff are going to be treated differently to people on permanent contracts, that will increase the difference between the two,’

Thanks for the cutting analysis, Aart. Can't wait for your next insights!

By Sam | 25 September 2012 7:08 PM

I now live in Australia where there is no sick pay, only for the first 10 days ( 'sickies'). Things get really nasty here, when someone turns sick for a longer time. People have to sell there houses and everything. A good friend just survived a aneurism rupture. After 12 weeks she needs to go back to work even when her doctor told her NOT too. She simply can't afford not to work anymore. She told the dr that if she didn't, she would probably die from financial stress sooner than from her life-treatening vessel condition. It is horrible to see what this does to people. 3 months can so be NOT enough.

By patricia | 26 September 2012 1:30 AM