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Temporary workers could be given permanent contract after six months

Freelance and temporary workers could have the option of taking a job with their employment agency after six months under a proposal put forward by employers.

The plan is a response to a measure in the Spring Accord, the deal drawn up to find additional budget savings, which obliges employers to pay the first six months of the WW unemployment allowance when they dismiss staff.

Because the rule would also apply to staff hired through personnel agencies, the fear is that firms will choose not to take them on at all rather than be liable for extra costs when they leave.

The agencies are proposing a compromise, under which workers who have been on their books for six months can join the payroll. This makes the agency rather than the client responsible for any unemployment cost.

In return, they want the premiums paid by employment agencies in respect of temporary workers to be reduced.

The deal is also likely to be attractive to temporary and freelance staff during the present economic uncertainty, since becoming employees offers more job security and employment rights.

Rendert Algra, chairman of the Dutch Association of Employment Agencies and Conciliation Bureaus, (NVUB), said: “Employment agencies are keen to strengthen working relations with their staff if there is an opportunity to do so, but the high premiums that they currently pay are not compatible with this.”

Algra wants to put the idea before politicians in the hope of having the new agreement in place by January 1.

Source: NOS: Sneller vaste baan voor flexwerkers

Photo by Victor1558

See also: NVUB website (in Dutch)