From Christmas to Eid: Employees Swap Holidays Under New Labor Agreements
Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, is becoming easier to celebrate in the Netherlands as more workers gain the right to take the day off under flexible labor agreements.
The holiday holds great significance for nearly one million Muslims in the country. This year, an increasing number of employees are benefiting from collective labor agreements (collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten – collective bargaining agreements) that allow them to exchange traditional Christian holidays for religious days that match their beliefs, according to trade union FNV and employers’ organization AWVN.
FNV reported that 75 out of 704 active agreements at the start of this year included options to swap religious holidays, compared to 51 two years ago. These agreements cover major organizations such as hospitals, ABN Amro, IKEA, and ProRail. Additionally, 167 agreements now include provisions that prioritize leave requests for religious observances.
AWVN confirmed the upward trend, noting that once such flexibility is included in agreements, it tends to remain. The organization emphasized that these policies not only support inclusivity but also help employers attract a more diverse workforce and position themselves as modern and accessible workplaces.
Employees are already feeling the impact. Mohammed Amchich (محمد أمشيش), a Rabobank employee, said taking time off for Eid has become much easier. Previously, he had to carefully coordinate with management, but now he enjoys greater autonomy and feels that workplaces are becoming more accommodating to different cultural and religious needs.