Downward convergence between negotiated wages and the minimum wage: The case of the Netherlands

Wike Been, Paul de Beer, Wiemer Salverda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
132 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This chapter starts with a general discussion of the legal framework of the statutory minimum wage and its uprating mechanism. It describes the evolution of the minimum wage rate over time, compared to the overall wage developments, collectively negotiated wage increases and labour productivity. The chapter demonstrates that the lowering of the relative level of the lowest negotiated wage rates has created room for a strong increase of low-wage employment in the Netherlands – a development encouraged by the Dutch government during the 1990s. With the introduction of the minimum wage, the idea was that the adult minimum wage ought to provide a sufficient income for a family to live on. The chapter analyses the evolution of the lowest collectively negotiated wage rates and the interaction with the statutory minimum wage. It focuses on the negotiations in three specific sectors: the cleaning sector, supermarkets, and the metal industry.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMinimum Wage Regimes
Subtitle of host publicationStatutory Regulation, Collective Bargaining and Adequate Levels
EditorsIrene Dingeldey, Damian Grimshaw, Thorsten Schulten
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter7
Pages137-161
Number of pages25
ISBN (Electronic)9780429402234
ISBN (Print)9781138392380
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

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