A collective labor agreement (CLA) contains agreements on employment conditions that apply to a large group of employees. Think of things like wages, working hours, vacation days and pension. But what exactly is a CLA, what types of CLAs are there, and what does this mean for you as an employee? In this article we explain it clearly.
What exactly is a collective labor agreement?
Cao stands for collective labor agreement. It is a written agreement between one or more employers (organisations) and employee organisations (such as trade unions). It contains general agreements on the employment conditions for employees within a sector or company.
A collective labor agreement is a supplement to your individual employment contractThe provisions of the collective labor agreement automatically apply to you as an employee if your employer falls under this collective labor agreement.
What does a collective labor agreement contain?
In a collective labor agreement you will find agreements about, among other things:
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Working hours and working hours
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Remuneration (such as pay scales and periodic payments)
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Allowances for irregular work
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Reimbursements for travel expenses, for example
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Number of vacation days
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Rules for overtime
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Continued payment of wages in case of illness
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Pension schemes
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Safety in the workplace
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Education and development
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Leave arrangements, such as special leave or parental leave
The content of the collective labor agreement is binding: your employer must adhere to it if he falls under the collective labor agreement. In many cases, the agreements are even more favorable than the minimum prescribed by law.
What is the difference between a collective labor agreement and an employment contract?
You always have an individual employment contract with your employer. This contains personal agreements, for example about your position, starting date and salary.
But:
- The collective labor agreement applies in addition to your employment contract
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The collective labor agreement may never contain worse conditions than the law
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The agreements in your contract may not be less advantageous than the collective labor agreement
👉 Example: Does the collective labor agreement state that you are entitled to 25 vacation days? Then your contract cannot state that you only get 20.
Minimum collective labor agreement and standard collective labor agreement: what is the difference?
There are two types of collective labour agreements when it comes to the scope for additional agreements in your individual employment contract:
- Minimum collective labor agreement
With a minimum collective labor agreement, employers and employees may deviate from the collective labor agreement, but only to the advantage of the employeeThis means that for example more pay you can agree on something other than what is stated in the collective labor agreement.
- Standard collective labor agreement
In a standard collective labor agreement, no deviations from the collective labor agreement are allowed, also not if it is more beneficial for you as an employeeThe collective labor agreement provisions are then binding for everyone to whom the collective labor agreement applies.
👉 Wondering which type of collective labor agreement applies to you? Check the collective labor agreement text or consult with your employer or De Unie.
Types of collective labour agreements: industry-wide collective labour agreement and company-wide collective labour agreement
There are 2 types of collective labor agreements:
- Industry collective labor agreement
This collective labour agreement applies to an entire sector, such as metal and electrical engineering, insurance or retail. The agreements are made between industry organisations and trade unions.
- Company names-CLA
This collective labor agreement only applies within one company, such as ING, Rabobank, Philips or UWV and is concluded between the employer and one or more employee organizations.
How does a collective labor agreement relate to the law?
A collective labor agreement sometimes replaces the law, but never on points that are not legally permitted to be deviated from. The collective labor agreement may improve your position as an employee. Consider:
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A higher wage than the minimum wage
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More vacation days than legally required
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Additional training opportunities
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Arrangements regarding work and informal care
👉 Legal minimums, such as the minimum wage and the minimum number of vacation days, always remain in force.
How long is a collective labor agreement valid?
A collective labor agreement is valid for a maximum of five years, but a shorter term is often chosen, for example one or two years.
Important to know:
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The term is agreed during the collective labor agreement negotiations
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After expiry, a collective labor agreement can be extended
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If no new collective labor agreement has yet been concluded, the old collective labor agreement may remain in force temporarily (after-effect)
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Every collective labor agreement must be registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW)
Where can you find your collective labor agreement?
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Inquire with your employer
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Search for your collective labor agreement via our collective labor agreement search function for industries, or for companies
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Look up the collective labor agreement on the official website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
- Contact De Unie
Need help with your collective labor agreement?
Do you have questions about your collective labor agreement or would you like to know whether a collective labor agreement applies to you?
Contact us via sc@unie.nl or give us a call 0345-851963 or search for your collective labor agreement in our search function for ribs of businesses
