NederlandsAs a doer of Actief Werkt! , you probably just prefer to be actively working. However, performing work also involves a whole administrative paperwork. Most paper is paid for by an employer, but it is useful for some documents that you know what it contains. The collective labor agreement is such an important document. Inform yourself and test your knowledge about collective labor agreements with our quiz.
What do you already know about collective agreements?
Now it's your turn! In 8 questions you can find out how much you already know about collective agreements. Do you find it difficult? Then you can also take a look at the text below this quiz. There we provide detailed explanations about collective labor agreements. Good luck!
Riddle for ActiefWerkt!
What is a collective labor agreement?
A collective labor agreement stands for a collective labor agreement that is concluded between employers/employers organizations and employee organizations (trade unions, an association of employees). Een CLA is therefore valid for several people. Everything that is in a collective labor agreement is reflected in the individual employment contract that you enter into with your employer.
An employment contract is almost always subordinate to a collective labor agreement, but there are exceptions. A company may of course always choose to include more favorable provisions in the employment contract than what is stated in the collective labor agreement. But otherwise it is not allowed. In other words: an employment contract that is more disadvantageous compared to the collective labor agreement is not allowed.
The origin of the collective labor agreement
In the past, there were no unions and no rules protecting workers. The boss of a company made individual agreements that only applied to that company. Employees could thus be abused, for example because overtime was not paid and the wages were too low.
When the workers gathered and united in unions, protests against long working hours and low wages grew. The collective labor agreement was created in order to be able to jointly make fair agreements. In Nederland , the construction and diamond industry was probably the first sector in Amsterdam where tariff agreements and labor regulations were made. This was in 1894.
It is rare these days that there is no collective labor agreement. It still happens though. If no collective labor agreement is in force for a sector or profession, the general rules of labor law apply. For employees, this legislation is usually less favorable than when a collective labor agreement has been negotiated.
What is in a collective labor agreement?
A collective labor agreement states, among other things, how high the wage is, what the payment is for overtime, how long a probation period lasts, how long the notice period is, which pension rules apply and how many vacation days can be taken per year. In short: the collective labor agreement is a package of practical agreements that apply to a very large group of people. These agreements may not deviate from what is stated in the law.