Cabinet wants more permanent contracts: will teachers notice?
Fewer flexible contracts and more security for employees. This week, the cabinet presented a plan to reform the labor market. What will that mean for higher education?
After lengthy consultations with trade unions and employers, the government has a plan sent to the House of Representatives that “must lay a new foundation under the labor market” and ensure less flexible contracts.
That seems to be good news for the staff of colleges and universities. For years there has been criticism of the many temporary contracts, especially at universities, but also at some universities of applied sciences.
Just two weeks ago, the AOb with a bus to educational institutions to address administrators about their 'flex addiction'. The uncertainty of temporary contracts would lead to stress and complaints.
When do employees benefit from this?
It takes a while. Bills still have to be drafted, which will be discussed in the House of Representatives and the Senate in about a year. After that, the collective labor agreements still have to be adjusted. All in all, it could take another two years.
What will change for lecturers and researchers?
Perhaps the most important is the disappearance of the revolving door construction. New teachers and researchers are usually given a temporary contract. Do they not get a permanent contract after three years and do they still want to stay employed? Then they now have to take a 'break' of at least six months and then they can resume temporary employment at the same university. For example, a string of temporary contracts can arise with no prospect of a permanent contract. To discourage this, the cabinet wants to extend the six-month break to at least five years. Of course you can still hop from one university to another with temporary contracts.
But will this lead to more permanent contracts in higher education?
AObdirector Douwe Dirk van der Zweep thinks so. “We have been committed to less flexibility for years. I expect that the interim stop of five years will ensure that more people get a permanent contract.”
Postdocs and PhD students often have a contract of more than three years. And later?
Postdocs will get a permanent contract more quickly, expects FNV sector director Jan Boersma. Nothing will change for PhD students, because their place is seen as a training place.
And what will happen to the tenure tracks?
Up or out, is the idea behind it tenure tracks. Over several years, researchers go through a trajectory towards a professorship, with interim evaluation moments. Exceptions to the agreements have also been made for them in the current collective labor agreement, and this will probably remain the case.
But can they still be sent away if they have been working for a few years?
The trade union FNV would like these researchers to receive a permanent contract sooner. But that is still under discussion.
