Working conditions in the Netherlands relatively favourable in 2007 and 2008 09.02.2009

Working conditions in the Netherlands are relatively favourable in comparison with other European Union countries, according to the Arbobalans 2007/2008 (Occupational Health and Safety Survey), compiled by the Work and Employment department of TNO Quality of Life under the auspices of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The survey shows that employment absenteeism among the Dutch working population has declined and that the number of industrial accidents has stabilised. Heavy sectors such as construction and industry also reported fewer physical hazards among employees than in other European Union countries. So far the Labour Inspectorate has approved the occupational health and safety catalogues of 20 sectors. These include the cleaning sector, municipalities, secondary education and the metalworking and metal-electrical sectors. In these occupational health and safety catalogues, employers and employees record agreements on working as healthily and safely as possible. The Dutch government wants the agreements in these catalogues to replace the state’s current policy regulations in 2010.
Dutch employers have enjoyed more freedom of choice in recent years in terms of support by external specialists. The survey shows that the number of companies still signing contracts to this end with a certified multidisciplinary health and safety service is declining. In 2007 some 79 per cent still had a contract with a health and safety service. In 2005 the figure was 86 per cent. Other conclusions from the survey are an increase in computer work: in 2007 the Dutch employee spent an average of 3.7 hours per day in front of a screen, while in 2003 it was 3.45 hours. There has also been a growth in the number of employees doing overtime. In 2007 the Dutch employee worked an average of six extra hours a week against four hours in 2003, while the number of contracted hours remained stable at an average of 32 hours. The percentage of employees wanting to continue working until the age of 65 rose during 2005-2007 from 21 to 34 per cent.
It is notable that the Netherlands scores relatively poorly when it comes to the number of employees involved in physical violence or discrimination. This is experienced more in the Netherlands than in other EU countries, particularly in the care and welfare sector, education and in government organisations.

The Arbobalans 2007/2008 can be downloaded from www.arboportaal.nl