Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151) - Netherlands (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee notes the observations submitted by the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) in a communication received on 29 August 2014, which raise the following concerns: (i) misuse of legal constructions in the civil service, such as “flex workers” hired from temporary employment agencies who are excluded from collective agreements for the civil service while being hired for several years and doing the same work as civil servants with the same authority and responsibilities; (ii) the impossibility since 2010 to bargain collectively concerning wage increases for civil servants due to “no rise” Government policies; and (iii) lack of consultation of public sector unions before and during the law-making process of a bill concerning the legal position and protection of civil servants, presently under examination in the Upper Chamber of Parliament following approval by the Lower Chamber. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in respect to the FNV’s observations and to submit these questions to consultations with the appropriate representative organizations of workers and employers.