Covid-19 and labour law in the Netherlands

Abstract

Against the backdrop of an ‘intelligent lockdown’ the Dutch government has launched a threefold emergency package to support businesses and safeguard employment as much as possible. This ‘Emergency Jobs and Economy Package’ contains, amongst others, measures that aim to ensure the safeguarding of income and salaries for employees as well as self-employed workers. It concerns mainly subsidy law and the extension of social security legislation, not employment law. However, the safeguarding of income for employees (NOW) entails a fine on redundancies during the period of support. Not only employees, but also self-employed workers can apply for income support. From a health and safety perspective (during lockdown as well as going forward to relaxation), no specific national measures have been taken. The general rules on social distancing and hygiene have to be implemented as part of the general obligation to provide a safe working place. No specific care arrangements for working parents that have to work from home have been put in place.