Trade unions and employers’ associations have reached agreement in principle on a new collective labour agreement for municipalities (CAO Gemeenten). The agreement will run for two years and is currently being put to their respective memberships. The CAO Gemeenten will change as follows:
Financial benefits
As of 1 December 2021, the salaries of employees covered by the CAO will rise by 1.5%. A further increase of 2.4% will follow in April 2022. The CAO also offers other financial benefits, such as a one-off payment. Every employee employed as of 3 November 2021 is entitled to a one-off payment of EUR 1,200 gross, which includes a EUR 300 gross COVID expense allowance.
Minimum salary and home-working allowance
From 1 January 2022, employees are entitled to a minimum salary of EUR 14 gross per hour. From the same date, employees also receive a home-working allowance of EUR 2 net per day on which they work from home by agreement. This arrangement runs until the end of the CAO’s term.
Other
The new CAO will be more flexible regarding taking parental leave. Leave-saving (without expiry) will be introduced for everyone. Finally, employee-friendly arrangements regarding the post-statutory unemployment benefit and the third year of illness will continue to apply under the new CAO.
For the agreement in principle, click here (in Dutch).
Questions about the above?
Please contact one of Sørensen Advocaten’s employment lawyers. Call: +31 (0)10-2492444
