Collective labour agreements (CLAs) in regions such as Zoetermeer often provide supplementary dismissal compensations in addition to the statutory transition payment. Article 7:673 paragraph 12 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) stipulates that CLA provisions take precedence if they are more favourable to the employee. In the metal CLA, widely used by companies in the Zoetermeer industrial parks such as Rokkeveenseweg, an 'old' compensation of 1 month's salary per year of service applies, cumulative with the transition payment.
Important sectors in Zoetermeer: Construction (Construction CLA with extras on top of transition, relevant for local contractors), Care (up to 1.5 months per year of service at institutions such as the Lentis-hospital) and Education (specific transition pots at schools in the region). Check your CLA via the CLA finder on cao.nl or consult the local FNV branch in Zoetermeer. For VSOs in this municipality, the total arrangement must not be less favourable than the transition payment plus any fair compensation.
In 2025, CLAs in Zoetermeer remain flexible due to the growing economy in the region, while the Act on Compensation for the Transition Payment for Employers encourages the formation of pots for long-term employment relationships at local SMEs. Benefits: higher payouts, outplacement via Zoetermeer career centres and sometimes retraining. Disadvantage: more complex calculations due to regional variations.
Tip: Engage trade union support via the Zoetermeer branch of CNV or FNV for negotiations. In disputes, the subdistrict court in The Hague decides on the basis of the CLA text and local applications.