Dutch employers want to test workers for alcohol

Employers organizations MKB-Nederland and VNO-NCW want the Dutch privacy law to be extended so that employees in more professions can be tested for alcohol or drugs. They also want companies to be able to request more information from sick employees, ANP reports.

Currently only employees in certain professions - like pilots or train drivers - can be tested for alcohol and drugs. But according to the employers, making allowing this for more professions will make it possible for companies to better guarantee safety.

Asking more questions of sick employees could also help them get back on their feet faster, the employers organizations said, according to the news wire.

Trade unions FNV and CNV are vehemently against this proposal, they told Financieele Dagblad. According to them, the privacy of sick employees are already under pressure in some cases because health and safety services and occupational physicians don't always work independently.

The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, will discuss the privacy law on Thursday.