DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

26 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Giant ABP pension fund may pull out of civil service pay deal

October 7, 2015

old couple pensioners ageCivil service pension fund ABP is threatening to withdraw its support for the recently agreed pay deal for 600,000 civil servants.

The deal includes a commitment to lower pension premiums, effectively boosting take-home pay by 2.2%. But the fund says it cannot cut premiums without threatening pension levels, the Volkskrant says on Wednesday.

The deal was signed between the government and smaller unions in July and includes a 5% pay increase over two years and a one-off bonus payment of €500.

However, the pay rise is made up of a 2.8% increase in actual earnings plus the cut in pension premiums. Premiums are not determined by the government but by the pension fund.

The giant FNV trade union federation, which represents 56% of all civil servants, pulled out of the pay talks and has since gone to court to try to have the deal annulled.

The Volkskrant points out that pension funds have to comply with rules sent down by the central bank and that the ABP does not have a free hand to set premiums at a lower level. If it does cut premiums, pensions will also be lower, the paper points out.

The fund has 2.8 million members and is one of the biggest pension funds in the world. It has until Monday to take a final decision on how to deal with the premium cut.

If the pension fund refuses to cut premiums, which the Volkskrant says is likely, the government will have to come up with a further pay rise.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now