Unemployment benefits have been reduced: unemployed individuals are facing a significant decrease in income.
Unemployed people in the Netherlands could lose up to €900 per month under new plans to cut spending on the WW (Werkloosheidswet – Unemployment Benefits Act). Trade unions warn that the proposed changes will sharply reduce both the amount and duration of payments.
According to calculations by FNV and CNV, many future claimants will receive far less support. The coalition parties D66, VVD, and CDA have agreed to cut about €1.5 billion from the WW budget by reducing the maximum benefit period from 24 months to 12 months.
The cabinet also plans to lower the cap on monthly benefits from €4,600 to €3,700. Since WW payments are based on 70% of the last salary up to a maximum limit, higher earners would be hit hardest. The FNV says around 24% of current recipients would already be worse off if the new rules applied today, and that number could rise due to recent job losses at Heineken, ING, and ASML.
People earning about €5,000 gross per month, including holiday pay and a possible 13th month, would receive lower benefits if they became unemployed under the new system. Older workers would be particularly affected, as they often struggle more to find new jobs. The CNV estimates that an older, higher-paid employee could lose up to €66,000 in benefits due to the lower cap and shorter duration.
Younger workers would also suffer under the proposed reforms. Currently, 14 years of work qualifies someone for 12 months of benefits. Under the new rules, 24 years of employment would be required. A 35-year-old with 14 years of work history would only qualify for seven months instead of 12.
Both unions have vowed to oppose the changes. CNV chairman بييت فورتوين said that unemployment benefits are funded by contributions from employers and employees, and warned that politicians are planning to divert that money away from jobseekers.