Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Netherlands (Ratification: 1950)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in its report, the information given by a government representative at the Conference in 1991 and the comments of the Confederation of the Netherlands Trade Union Movement (FNV).

With reference to the comments it has been making for many years on the need to repeal sections 10 and 11 of the law known at the "WAGGS" Act so that employers and workers in the national insurance-funded and subsidized sectors would be permitted freely to conclude collective agreements in relation to their terms and conditions of employment, the Committee takes due note of the information contained in the Government's report to the effect that the Economic and Social Council of the Netherlands is in favour of repealing the above sections.

The Committee also notes that the Government has decided to follow the advice of the Economic and Social Council and that the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment submitted in September 1992 the Government's proposal to Parliament with a view to the repeal of the above provisions. The Committee expresses the firm hope that in its next report the Government will indicate that sections 10 and 11 of the "WAGGS" Act have indeed been repealed and asks it to provide a copy of the repealing legislation as soon as it has been adopted.