‘Getting started’: what the coalition agreement means for employees and employers
On 30 January, the D66, CDA and VVD parties presented their coalition agreement entitled ‘Getting started’. It is ambitious and many of the plans will affect employers and employees. But what does this mean in concrete terms? In this blog, we list a number of measures.
Unemployment benefit reduced to one year
The maximum duration of unemployment benefit will be reduced to one year. Initially, the benefit will be slightly higher. The idea behind this change is to give workers more financial security and peace of mind so that they can find new work quickly.
Introduction of the Self-Employed Persons Act
The Vbar Act will largely be phased out. Only the legal presumption of the Vbar will be introduced: if you earn less than €38 per hour as a self-employed person, you have an employment contract. The client can prove the contrary.
The rest of the Vbar will be replaced by the Self-Employed Persons Act. This will be introduced in phases. The government will start by introducing the review committee and the sectoral legal presumptions. The review committee can give binding advice in advance to self-employed persons and clients. Is there an employment contract or a contract for services? In sectors such as construction or cleaning, sectoral legal presumptions apply: here, workers are considered employees by default, unless the employer can prove that they are contractors.
Adjustment of transition allowance
The transition allowance will be adjusted to what it is actually intended for: the transition from one job to another. The allowance will be linked to an LLO infrastructure, which stands for Lifelong Development. Employers who invest sufficiently and in a timely manner in further training, retraining or reintegration of sick employees will have to pay less or no transition allowance. The compensation scheme for employees who have been ill for more than two years will be abolished. This will apply to all employers.
Abolition of IVA benefit
The IVA benefit, intended for people who are completely incapacitated for work, will be abolished. This would make the work of the UWV easier, as they would no longer have to assess whether someone remains permanently incapacitated for work. The WIA system will also be overhauled as a result.
Faster increase in state pension age
Average life expectancy continues to rise, and with it the state pension age. Currently, the state pension age is increased by eight months for every year that we live longer. The government now wants the state pension age to rise in line with life expectancy. Every year that we live longer means that we have to work a year longer.
Disability insurance for the self-employed
The government wants all self-employed people to be compulsorily insured against disability. Those who already have their own insurance can opt out.
Asylum seekers into work faster
Asylum seekers with a high chance of being granted a residence permit will be allowed to work after three months instead of six. The administrative burden will be reduced and an alternative to the work permit will be introduced.
Do you have any questions about these measures? Please feel free to contact us!