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

23 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

Dutch relax rules for help to pay salaries to include more companies

April 22, 2020
Photo: Arenda Oomen via Rijksoverheid.nl
Photo: Arenda Oomen via Rijksoverheid.nl

Social affairs minister Wouter Koolmees has relaxed the rules of the government’s wage support package for companies hit by coronavirus so that more will qualify for help.

So far at least 100,000 companies have applied for assistance under the NOW scheme, which covers up to 90% of payroll costs, if a firm can prove they have lost at least 20% of turnover.

Koolmees has now agreed to relax that figure, so that companies which have lost less than 20% of sales will also qualify. They will have to agree to make a deal with unions about keeping jobs and stop the payment of bonuses and dividends this year.

The minister has also said the scheme can apply to separate companies within a larger group which currently don’t qualify if the group as a whole has not been seriously affected. Here too, companies must commit to keeping jobs and refrain from paying bonuses and dividends in 2020, Koolmees said.

Extension

The current package expires at the end of May and the government has already said it will continue to help firms who are struggling to pay staff. But there has been mounting pressure from left-wing parties and unions for stricter conditions to be attached when the ruling is rolled over.

The news that hotel booking agency Booking.com had applied for NOW help to pay its staff in the Netherlands irritated many, not least because the company has spent billions of euros in profits buying back shares.

Koolmees also told MPs on Wednesday he is looking into what more can be done for people on flexible contracts, who currently don’t qualify for emergency aid, and for seasonal workers.

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
Trump will attend Nato summit in The Hague, Schoof says
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
Many "new" homes on Funda were already on the market for months
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