Equal pay and pension for flexible work in higher professional education
A new collective labor agreement in higher professional education ensures that temporary workers will accrue the same pension as colleagues in permanent employment. “We go for the principle of 'equal work, equal pay'. This is a win,” says AObdriver Douwe van der Zweep.
Image: Front of the collective labor agreement education
All universities of applied sciences were informed about the new collective agreement yesterday. In the current collective labor agreement, the unions and employers already agreed to talk about flexible work. Now they are out: temporary workers receive the same employment conditions as employees with a permanent contract. “The bottom line is that it shouldn't matter whether you have a permanent contract as an English teacher or are working via a temp contract,” explains the AObdriver off. The new rule will come into effect on September 1, 2019.
Better pension
The agreement states that temporary workers will receive an equal pension accrual. That has not been the case until now. They fell under the collective labor agreement for temporary workers and did not accrue any pension during the first six months. This did happen after six months, but that was a much 'leaner' pension than their colleagues in permanent employment with the ABP pension fund saved together.
This agreement is unique in education
“What we have now agreed is that temporary workers will accrue pension from day one and that higher professional education institutions will supplement the difference between the better pension of the ABP and the collective labor agreement temporary workers,” says Van der Zweep. The temporary workers therefore receive a compensation of 7 percent in their wages. “This removes the financial incentive for employers to opt for temporary workers.”
Supporting functions
Personnel in support functions, such as administrative employees or secretaries, will especially benefit from this collective labor agreement. They more often work through a temporary employment contract than teachers.
“This agreement is unique in education,” says Van der Zweep. “The fact that we have now succeeded is very positive. It is a good rule in which we prevent competition on terms of employment.”
