National Guidelines in the Netherlands - Work and Family

"En Route for a New Balance Between Work and Care"

This paper of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment put forward proposals to create better opportunities for combining work and care. The paper lays down the foundation for the Work and Care Act, which combines and co-ordinates all the existing and leave schemes and makes them more flexible. This included:

• the addition of the right to change one's working hours;
• a right to short-term care leave in emergencies;
• a system of leave for caring for relatives;
• subject to certain conditions, tax concessions on savings for leave. In the government's proposals this savings scheme could also be used to finance periods of short-term care leave;
• Proposals for flexibility and individual solutions in the taking of leave; and,
• the parties to collective agreements to have a major role in updating terms of employment.
• Family-Friendly Policies

These polices include the following areas or initiatives:

• A special committee trying to combine work and family responsibilities.
• Promotion of working hours tailored to personal circumstances.
• Urban and regional planning and mobility.
• Relaxation of restrictions on trading hours and better coordination of working hours and trading hours and personal services.
• Coordination of leisure, educational and childcare facilities.
• Working Conditions Policy Rules

These rules detail the overall standards in the Working Conditions Decree and the Working Conditions Regulations.