Netherlands

Dutch union FNV has reached a new collective agreement with employers for workers in general practitioner care. The agreement, covering staff in daytime GP clinics and out-of-hours care centres across the Netherlands, runs from July 2025 to July 2027. Wages will increase by more than 9% in three phases: 3% in November 2025, July 2026, and May 2027. A new generation scheme will allow eligible staff to reduce working hours while keeping most of their income and full pension accrual. Other gains include a rise in the Friday evening shift allowance to 50%, reimbursement for cycling to work, and

FNV members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the final offer for the new collective labour agreement for the workers employed by the twelve provincial governments and related public bodies. Covering the period from 1 July 2025 to 1 July 2026, the agreement includes a 4% wage increase, delivered in two stages, and a one-off €1,000 gross payment in November. The deal was backed by 81% of FNV members. The agreement introduces improvements to allowances for irregular work, extending coverage and increasing weekend rates. A new provision allows workers to allocate part of their individual

A new collective agreement for municipal workers in the Netherlands will see salaries rise by an average of 7.64% over two years. The agreement, negotiated by FNV and other unions with the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), also raises the minimum hourly wage to €16. The agreement covers 220,000 municipal workers and runs from 1 April 2025 to 1 April 2027. While unions welcomed the new minimum wage, they described the overall wage increase as modest, with FNV noting that it reflects a compromise based on the final offer made by VNG. Lower-paid workers will see higher gains due to a €35

Hospital and rehabilitation centre workers in the Netherlands have secured a new two-year collective agreement after 77% of FNV members voted in favour of the negotiated outcome. The agreement delivers a total wage increase of 8%, improved allowances, and stronger protections for work-life balance. The deal includes a first pay rise of 2% retroactive from 1 February 2025, with further increases bringing the total to 8% over the agreement’s duration. Workers will now also receive compensation for changing at the workplace and a higher travel allowance approaching the fiscal maximum. The

FNV Young & United is stepping up its campaign against youth wages following the publication of a government study that fails to address the inequality young workers face. The union sharply criticised the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for ignoring overwhelming evidence and sticking to outdated arguments. Youth wages in the Netherlands allow employers to pay workers under the age of 21 significantly less than the statutory minimum wage for adults – even when doing the same work. This means that an 18-year-old can legally earn only 61.5% of the adult minimum wage. FNV Young & United

FNV has suspended the planned national strike by hospital workers after employers presented a new offer for a collective agreement. The move follows months of negotiations and mounting pressure, including an ultimatum and the mobilisation of strike committees in 47 hospitals. The nationwide strike, scheduled for mid-April, would have been only the third of its kind in the sector. The new offer includes an 8% wage increase in four steps by August 2026. It also improves compensation for irregular shifts, including a 38% bonus for Saturday mornings, and raises travel allowances to €0.21/km. A €50

Pharmacy workers in the Netherlands have secured a historic collective agreement following more than nine months of negotiations, actions, and strikes. The agreement includes a 20% wage increase by the end of 2026, with a further raise in 2027 linked to government contributions for labour cost development in healthcare (OVA). The deal comes after an unprecedented mobilisation in the sector, led by FNV Farmacie . Workers launched the first-ever national pharmacy strike in November 2024, followed by regional actions and a two-day national strike in January 2025. A planned strike during the

Workers employed under the Social Employment Agency and covered by the Social Work Provision collective labour agreement in the Netherlands will receive a 3.2% wage increase in January 2025. This adjustment, secured through negotiations involving the FNV trade union , is part of the 2021–2025 collective agreement, which links wage increases to the wage price compensation mechanism. This mechanism ensures that salaries reflect national trends in pay levels. In 2024, the wage price compensation percentage was set at 6.43%. Workers received the first part of this adjustment, a 3.1% increase, in

On 12 November, pharmacy workers across the Netherlands went on strike, closing nearly all public pharmacies for the day. Demonstrators gathered in The Hague to demand fair wages and improved working conditions under the Pharmacies collective agreement. This strike marked an unprecedented mobilisation in the sector. After three months of protests, workers expressed frustration over the lack of progress in negotiations. Unions FNV and CNV had called for a 6% wage increase retroactive to 1 July, a minimum hourly wage of €16, and payment for all working hours, including preparation time before

A new collective agreement for forest and nature workers in the Netherlands is set to bring enhanced job protections, wage improvements, and fairer working conditions for those employed in forestry and conservation. Negotiated between FNV and sector employers, this agreement aims to improve job stability, ensure fair pay, and promote safety standards across workplaces, reinforcing support for the individuals who contribute significantly to forest conservation and timber production. Key achievements in this agreement include an 8.5% salary increase over two years, with a 4.5% raise in November

Pharmacy workers in the Netherlands are ramping up their fight for a fair collective agreement after employers failed to present an adequate proposal, despite ongoing efforts. Workers and the union FNV have set an ultimatum, signalling the need for more forceful action to secure respect and appreciation for their essential work. Pharmacy workers' primary demands include a substantial wage increase to reflect their workload and rising inflation, alongside improved working conditions. These conditions involve ensuring fair compensation for overtime, adherence to legal break times, and automatic

Recent developments in the central government sector have raised significant concerns among FNV members . The new government’s coalition agreement introduces sweeping measures including a mandated 22% reduction in operational costs and a wage freeze for 2026 for state workers, signaling tough times ahead. The agreement seeks to reverse the sector's recent growth, potentially impacting staffing levels and core responsibilities. This shift could exacerbate already high workloads for civil servants, despite positive steps like limiting external hiring to control costs. FNV emphasizes the

The FNV trade union has surveyed hospital workers and found that 82% believe that a shorter full-time standard working week of 30 or 32 hours (for the same money) would have a positive effect on attracting and retaining staff. Over 3,350 employees in hospitals and university medical centres responded. The union points out that the workload in the healthcare sector is at an all-time high and the expected staff shortages are set to increase in the coming years. The FNV has been arguing for years for the need to make the work more attractive and more than nine out of 10 in the survey expect a

The FNV trade union has called a national action meeting for 1 June for workers covered by the pharmacies collective agreement. This follows the collapse of negotiations after the fifth round of bargaining with the Mediq employers’ organisation which made a pay offer of 4%, well below the level sought by the union. The FNV says that this not only fails to ensure protection of workers’ purchasing power but also ignores the challenges facing the sector with staffing shortages, high workloads and many instances of aggression from customers.

Members of the FNV trade union are currently voting on whether to accept a new collective agreement covering central government. The deal includes a €1200 one-off payment for full-time employees to compensate for inflation paid in May this year even before the current agreement expires. On 1 July there will be an 8.5% pay increase plus €50 and an increase in the individual choice budget by 0.13% to 16.50% of the salary. A one-off payment of €800 will follow in November 2024 and a further payment of €350 on 1 July 2025. The one-off payments add up to €2350 (pro rata for part timers). The