The FNV-affiliated construction workers union has called for the return of early retirement schemes as an ‘exceptional measure’ to deal with the crisis, the AD reports on Friday.

By enabling thousands of builders aged over 60 to stop work early on a pension, younger workers will have greater job security, the union says.
In addition, building workers aged over 55 should get help with finding work outside the sector, the union says.

Early retirement schemes used to be common in the Netherlands but are currently being phased out. At the moment, most builders retire at the age of 62, three years ahead of the state pension age.

Benefits

But that is being put up to 67 and the government is planning to make it easier for companies to sack older staff, by cutting redundancy pay-outs and reducing jobless benefits.

Without changes, over 10,000 builders could lose their jobs next year, the union says.

On Thursday the building sector economic institute warned of a further downturn in construction this year.

A spokesman for construction company association Bouwend Nederland said in reaction the union’s plan is unrealistic. It is not financially possible or desirable given current social developments,’ a spokesman said.