The Dutch Lesson: Give Temps, Part-Timers Some Real Security

[Lydia Leftcoast]

AMSTERDAM -- Maarten Van Der Giessen got his job at Dow Chemical Co. in 1996 through Vedior N.V., a major temporary employment agency in the Netherlands. Ten years later, the 36-year-old who majored in chemistry still works on a temporary contract for the same U.S. firm.

If this were Japan, someone working on a temporary contract in his late 30s would be seriously worried about his future -- to continue living with low wages, few benefits and little hope of getting a permanent job.

Such is not the case with Giessen.

"If Dow Chemical tells me they don't need me anymore, Vedior will have to look for another job for me, or otherwise (the temp agency) will have to pay me the salary," he said. "(Temps) are protected by regulations in the Netherlands."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20060507a3.html

[darkmaestro019]

1. One more reason why I dream of moving to the Netherlands.

(sigh) yet if I could, I might not need to. Que sera.

[Vidar]

2. The Netherlands--defender of liberty for more than 500 years.