House of Representatives rejects proposal for 36-hour working week in healthcare on BES Islands
KRALENDIJK – On Tuesday, the Dutch House of Representatives rejected a motion by 50PLUS MP Corrie van Brenk to make a 36-hour working week with retention of salary possible for healthcare workers on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.
Van Brenk stated that healthcare workers on the BES islands currently work a 40-hour week, while in the European Netherlands a 36-hour working week is widely standard in healthcare. According to her, other public employers on the islands have now also switched to 36 hours.
According to Van Brenk, equivalent terms of employment are important for future-proof healthcare on the islands. She also points to the vulnerable labour market in the Caribbean Netherlands. According to the motion, the regular OVA funding offers insufficient room to introduce the shorter working week.
Additional financial resources needed
The motion therefore asked the government to make additional financial resources available on a structural basis, so that healthcare workers can work 36 hours a week with retention of salary.
The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport had advised against the motion beforehand. According to the minister, further discussions with employers must first take place, and research must be carried out into, among other things, working hours, funding and the question of whether healthcare institutions can continue to deploy sufficient staff.
The motion was rejected on Tuesday during the votes. The parties that voted in favour included PRO, SP, 50PLUS, DENK, Volt, Partij voor de Dieren and ChristenUnie.
