BBZ
Employment law in the Netherlands
If you are employed in the Netherlands, you and your employer will be subject to Dutch employment law. Some aspects of Dutch employment law are listed below.
Number of days' holiday and holiday pay
If you work 5 days a week, you will get at least 20 days' holiday a year. If you work part-time, or do not start working until halfway through the year, you will be entitled to proportionately fewer days off.
You will receive holiday pay from your employer amounting to 8% of your gross monthly pay each month. Holiday pay is paid in May of each year.
National holidays
On public holidays, you are entitled to the day off, with pay. Public holidays are:- New Year's Day (1 January)
- Easter Monday
- Queen's Day (30 April)
- Ascension Day
- Whit Monday
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Boxing Day (26 December)
Minimum wage in 2012
If you work in the Netherlands for 5 days a week and you are between 23 and 65, you will earn at least € 1,446.60 gross per month. That is the statutory minimum wage. Some branches of industry have a higher minimum wage (as laid down in the collective agreement (cao) of the branch concerned).
Minimum wage in 2012
| Age | Percentage | Gross monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| 23 or older | 100% | € 1446.60 |
| 22 | 85% | € 1229.60 |
| 21 | 72.5% | € 1048.80 |
| 20 | 61.5% | € 889.65 |
| 19 | 52.5% | € 759.45 |
| 18 | 45.5% | € 658.20 |
| 17 | 39.5% | € 571.40 |
| 16 | 34.5% | € 499.10 |
| 15 | 30% | € 434.00 |