CLA agreements 2024: Key Developments for Employees and Employers
The collective bargaining negotiations for 2024 have yielded a number of important outcomes that will affect working conditions in the Netherlands. According to the recent publication by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW), entitled CLA agreements 2024, clear trends are visible, including a sharper pay rise and new agreements focused on inclusiveness and welfare.
Wage development and inflation
One of the most striking results from the collective bargaining is the expected increase in collective wages in 2024. Whereas the average collective wage increase in 2023 was still 5.5%, an increase of 7.1% is expected in 2024. This wage increase is a direct response to persistent inflation and labour market tightness.
New Working Agreements
In addition to wage increases, new agreements have been reached that respond to current social issues. These include collective bargaining agreements on equal pay, climate-friendly working conditions and employee welfare. There were also agreements on hybrid working and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Older Workers and Social Security
For older workers, an increasing number of collective agreements include agreements on additional leave and reduced working hours. This contributes to the sustainable employability of this group of workers. There are also agreements in most collective agreements on continued sick pay, with 82% of CAO employees entitled to continued payment of more than 170% of their wages during the first two years of illness.
Attention to self-employed and Flexworkers
In 2024, there are also more collective agreements in which agreements have been made on self-employed workers. Eleven collective agreements include specific rate agreements for self-employed workers, which is two more than in previous years. This is an important development to strengthen the position of the self-employed without staff and better regulate their rates.
View Full Report
For more detailed information on all collective agreement developments in the Netherlands, you can read the full report on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment here.
The 2024 collective agreements reflect the challenges employers and employees currently face, but also offer concrete solutions for a fairer and more sustainable working environment.
For questions or support in collective bargaining, you can always contact VHP2.