Massive layoffs looming in the Netherlands, trade union CNV warns
The Netherlands is on the verge of several massive rounds of layoffs, the trade union CNV told AD. At least a third of the businesses with which CNV negotiates have layoffs on the table. Thousands of jobs may be at risk, especially in financial services, industry, retail, and education, CNV chairman Piet Fortuin said. “We’ve had low unemployment for a long time, but that’s slowly turning around.”
The tension in the labor market is slowly decreasing. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported earlier this month that the Netherlands has more unemployed people than open vacancies for the first time in four years. For every 100 unemployed, there are now 97 vacancies.
CNV is seeing that in practice. At least a third of CNV negotiators have had the topic of reorganization and layoffs broached in ongoing collective agreement talks. So far, they’ve mainly involved smaller groups of people. “But it does add up,” Fortuin said. And some larger layoffs are also being announced. On Thursday, ASN Bank announced it was cutting 850 to 950 full-time jobs.
CNV is worried about the financial sector, education, and industry in particular. The education sector is facing government budget cuts, and universities and universities of applied sciences recently reported a decrease in enrollment. Fortuin hopes that the new government will put the education cuts on hold. “As a country, we want to remain at the forefront of knowledge and innovation. If you cut back on education, it will come back to haunt you in the long run.”
Several large industrial companies have announced that they are leaving the Netherlands, including Fibrant closing its factory at the Chemelot industrial park. Several companies at the port of Rotterdam are also facing layoffs due to closures. Fortuin observed that many industrial companies are only making essential investments, postponing large investments or moving them abroad. “Companies ceasing investment is the prime harbinger of a sector going downhill. And that has an impact on employment," he said.
CNV hopes that the new government will bring stability. “Regulatory certainty is needed; entrepreneurs want to know where they stand,” Fortuin said. “The situation is still manageable, but unemployment is rising. Things aren’t going wrong yet because there’s still plenty of work, but it will go wrong if we let it continue.”
