The Schiphol airport authority has agreed to increase the pay of security workers by a further €2.50 per hour in a bid to retain staff and slash passenger queuing times.

The airport put basic pay rates up €1.40 an hour in September after the summer bonus scheme – €5.25 an hour – ended. Pay rates for night work have also gone up 35% and the airport has pledged to improve working conditions, such as the areas where staff can relax when off shift.

The pay increase will apply to all security staff at Schiphol and Rotterdam airport and will start in November.

The airport authority hopes the pay increase will encourage more people to work as security staff but the unions say they doubt whether it will do the trick.

‘The big problem is the pressure of work, which is far too high,’ FNV spokesman Joost van Doesburg told broadcaster NOS. It also takes months to train people up to do the job, he said.

Schiphol has been grappling with staff shortages since May and has asked airlines to reduce passenger numbers by a further 13% into next year.