Ministers have set aside €68m to tackle the high unemployment rate among the over-50s and to make it more attractive for employers to take on older workers.

People aged 45 to 65 currently account for 240,000 of the 600,000 registered jobless in the Netherlands.

The money will go on extra training and schemes to help the over-50s find work as well as measures to reduce the cost of taking on older staff.

Social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher also wants unions and employers to reach agreement on scrapping some of the special measures enjoyed by older workers in pay and conditions agreements (CAOs).

Holiday

For example, many CAOs include extra days off for older workers and exclusion from shift work.

In addition, the image of older workers needs improving Asscher said. In general, the over-50s are healthy and enthusiastic workers and are no more likely than other age groups to take time off sick, he said.

The plan does not include a general pay cut for older staff as called for by temporary employment agency USG earlier this week. Asscher said this is a matter for unions and employers to discuss, not the government.