The government’s macro-economic forecasting think-tank CPB is refusing to calculate the likely effect of a freeze on civil service pay up to 2015 because it will never happen, the NRC reports on Monday, quoting the Nederlands Dagblad.

While pay can be frozen next year and possibly in 2014, political parties which are considering a longer freeze are fooling themselves, the CPB says.
In particular, large numbers of civil servants are set to retire in the coming years and wages will have to go up to attract the best staff, the organisation says.
Last month, Amsterdam council executive Eric van den Burg said civil service salaries should actually be cut to preserve jobs.
The CPB traditionally analyses the likely effect of political party manifesto plans on the economy.