Ageing and Employment Policies: Netherlands 2014: Working Better with Age

Given the ageing challenges, there is an increasing pressure in OECD countries to further boost the employability of the working-age population over the coming decades. This report provides an overview of policy iniatives implemented over the past decade in the Netherlands and identifies areas where more should be done, covering both supply-side and demand-side aspects.

To give better incentives to carry on working, the report recommends to promote longer contribution periods in the second-pillar pension schemes, and ensure better information and transparency of pension schemes, with a special focus on groups with low financial literacy. On the side of employers, it is important to progress towards more age-neutral hiring decisions and wage-setting procedures with more focus on performance and less on tenure and seniority.

To improve the employability of older workers, the focus should be to promote training measures for older unemployed which are directly linked to a specific job. The large diversity in municipal 'Work-First' programmes should be utilised in designing mor effective activation policies targetted on those at risk of losing contact with the labour market.

Contents:

+ Foreword

+ Acronyms and abbreviations

+ Executive summary

+ Assessment and key recommendations

+ Chapter 1. The 'Live Longer, Work Longer' challenge for the Netherlands
-The magnitude of the demographic challenge
-Recent reforms in ageing and employment policies
-References

+ Chapter 2. The labour market situation of older workers in the Netherlands
-The Netherlands in an international context
-Increased employment for those over 55
-Beyond averages: The roles of gender, age and education
-Labour market mobility of older workers
-Part-time work
-Reference

+ Chapter 3. Making work rewarding for Dutch seniors
-Social protection in the Netherlands
-Public pensions: Pressure leading to reforms
-Occupational schemes
-Pension saving for the self-employed: Still a challenge
-Early retirement in the second and third pillars
-Alternative pathways to early exit still exist
-Key policy recommendations
-References

+ Chapter 4. Encouraging employers in the Netherlands to hire and retain older workers
-Managing age diversity and promoting mobility at all ages
-Wage-productivity gaps
-The employment protection legislation (EPL)
-Mandatory retirement
-Persistent negative attitudes among employers
-Age discrimination
-Key policy recommendations
-References

+ Chapter 5. Strengthening the employability of older workers in the Netherlands
-Learning and bringing new skills by training
-The Public Employment Service (PES)
-Working conditions
-Key policy recommendations
-References

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