MPs are to hold an emergency debate this evening on the growing row over ministers’ plans to change redundancy rules.

In particular, opposition MPs are furious that details of the plans were leaked to the press before parliament had been informed. The changes are set to be discussed at next week’s ‘summit’ between ministers, unions and employers which is aimed at getting 200,000 jobless back into work.
With employers pro change, the unions opposed and ministers divided, it had seemed unlikely that the talks would take place. But earlier this week social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner announced that there had been a breakthrough, and redundancy deals would be on the agenda after all.
Since then there has been widespread coverage of the measures in the press. Today’s Telegraaf reports that one option being considered is to exempt high earners from the €75,000 limit on payouts (€100,000 for the over-40s), so that they can be given a golden handshake of up to one year’s full salary. Ministers are due to discuss their plans again at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, the unions are still adamant that redundancy law will not be on the agenda at next week’s meeting, while employers say ministers’ proposals must be included in the discussion.