The Netherlands - Developments in social partner organisations: employer organisations

Compared with the situation in 2003, the position of employer organisations has not changed. There still are three national peak associations - VNO-NCW, MKB-Nederland and LTO-Nederland - which still represent the same types of companies. The associations are accepted parties in consultations with government. In addition, there are between 800 to 1,200 sectoral organisations, which actually conclude the sectoral collective agreements. These sectoral agreements are usually extended; they cover the labour conditions of more than 90% of employees. This dense organisation of employers reflects their unchanged importance and their unchallenged position in Dutch industrial relations.