An ambitious plan for safe and healthy work
The government recently presented the Arbovisie 2040, a future-oriented plan to drastically improve working conditions in the Netherlands. With this vision, the government wants to ensure that working people do not develop health problems as a result of their work not only during their working life, but also after retirement.
The Health and safety vision 2040 focuses on three central bottlenecks:
- Prevention: There is too little focus on preventive measures, and not all parties involved take responsibility.
- Implementation: Compliance with health and safety rules is inadequate, vulnerable groups are poorly protected, and workers have too little say.
- Knowledge and enforcement: Knowledge on working conditions is fragmented and could be better used to increase social impact.
To address these challenges, eight solution directions have been drawn up. For example, it calls for attention to vulnerable groups such as self-employed workers and migrant workers, developing comprehensible health and safety rules, and improving worker involvement in health and safety policies.
The Economic and Social Council (SER) issued an opinion in May 2023 entitled Towards a working workplace system for all. This advice, together with the outcome of discussions with stakeholders, forms the basis of the Health and safety vision 2040.
The VHP2 supports the objectives of this vision and stresses the importance of continuous dialogue between employers, employees and the government. Healthy and safe working is a joint endeavour, and by working together we can ensure that everyone in the Netherlands works under the best possible working conditions.
For more information, please read the full Health and safety vision 2040 consult on the Health and Safety Portal website: Health and safety vision 2040 | Health and safety portal.