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Collective labour agreement

Learn more about the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch universities.

VU Amsterdam employees have an employment contract according to private law. This employment contract is subject to the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities.

Universities of The Netherlands (UNL) negotiates on terms and conditions of employment on behalf of university employees (except the members of the Executive Board). Terms and conditions of employment include such topics as salaries, leave, pension accrual and social security. The terms and conditions of employment as agreed with the employer’s association are defined in the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten).

Social security

As a university employee, you are entitled to unemployment benefits and possibly supplementary unemployment benefits in the event of unemployment. The arrangements are set out in the Non-Statutory Employment Regulation for Dutch Universities (BWNU).

In case of illness or occupational disability, the Sickness and Disability Scheme for the Dutch Universities (ZANU) applies, which includes provisions for continued payment of salary during illness.

As a VU Amsterdam employee, you are insured for WW, WIA, ZW (Sickness Benefits Act) and WAZO (Work and Care Act). To this end, VU Amsterdam registers you with the Tax Administration, which passes on the policy-relevant data to the UWV, the Employee Insurance Administration Agency. Employees in the government and education sector have more favourable social security arrangements than those in the market sector. In case of unexpected unemployment, incapacity for work or illness, as an ABP participant you will usually receive a benefit in addition to and/or after a statutory benefit. VU Amsterdam has the following supplements, respectively substitute benefits under the WW, WIA and ZW:

  • an above-statutory severance payment under the Non-Statutory Employment Regulation for Dutch Universities (BWNU)  
  • an above-statutory disability pension (ABP pension in the case of occupational disability) under the pension regulations
  • an above-statutory salary continuation in case of illness or disability and an above-statutory ‘sickness benefit after termination of employment’ under the Sickness and Disability Scheme for the Dutch Universities (ZANU)

More information

Contact VU - HR Service Desk

servicedesk.hrm@vu.nl
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM.

020 59 82882
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1.00 PM - 4.00 PM.

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