'Right to Flexible Working Hours in 2014'
THE HAGUE, 16/08/13 - The Christian democrats (CDA) and leftwing Greens (GroenLinks) have put forward a proposed bill to give employees the right to more flexible working hours from 2014.
At the moment, employees can only put in a request to work less hours. In the new setup, the employer cannot refuse a request for working hours adapted to school times or a day working at home just like that. As far as MPs Eddy van Hijum (CDA) en Linda Voortman (GroenLinks) are concerned, employees should be able to avail of the opportunity to make their working week more flexible already from next year. They put forward the proposed bill, aimed at allowing people to combine work and care more easily, on Thursday so that the Lower House can discuss it speedily after the summer recess. The act can then come into effect next year. CDA and GroenLinks want to encourage agreements to be made on flexible working in more collective labour agreements (CAOs) via their proposal. “Labour participation is dropping fastest among single parents. They have to have more opportunities for a good balance between work and private life, so that they do not feel forced to work less,” says Voortman. |