In the Netherlands, employment regulations are primarily defined by labour law. This law outlines important aspects such as how many hours can be worked in a week and the required break times. These regulations are also relevant when you have multiple contracts within one week.
Here are the main regulations to be aware of:
Maximum weekly working hours: While you can work up to 60 hours in a single week, the legal limit is an average of 48 hours per week over a 16-week period. We’ve taken these limits into account, so it’s ensured that these legal boundaries are never exceeded.
Break times: For every 4.5 hours of work, you are entitled to a break of at least 15 minutes. If you work longer than 5.5 hours, you should have a break of at least 30 minutes. If your shift lasts more than 10 hours, you’re entitled to a break of at least 45 minutes.
Rest periods: You must have at least 11 hours of rest between working days.
Find all the rules in this article.
Note: To comply with the Working Hours Act, we may cancel shifts and withdraw applications.
Collective labour agreement
In addition to these general regulations, CAOs (collective labour agreements) can provide additional rules and benefits. Depending on the CAO, you may also be entitled to surcharges for:
Overtime
Working at night
Working on public holidays
Working on weekends
These surcharges can enhance your earnings and reflect the additional demands of working outside regular hours. Read more about surcharges in this article.