NETHERLANDS - Trade unions representing Dutch hairdressers are appealing against a recent pre-pension ruling.

At the end of last year a Dutch court ruled that ANKO, the Dutch hairdressers employers’ organisation, was not obliged to transfer its early retirement scheme (VUT) into a pre-pension.

Two years ago, ANKO and the trade unions CNV Bedrijvenbond and Kappersbond FNV had agreed the employers’ organisation was to transfer its VUT scheme into a pre-pension from January 2005. Employers and employees were to cover the costs on a 50:50 basis.

However, a Dutch court recently ruled the circumstances had changed so much that ANKO could no longer be forced to implement a pre-pension scheme. The court was referring to a recent shake up of the pre-pension system by the Dutch goveernment as agreed in its recent social accord.

In a statement, Willem Kruithof of the CNV hairdressers’ union, said: “It is about safeguarding the employers’ part of the pre-pension premiums, as was agreed before the social accord.” He accused ANKO of not wanting to find a solution to the problem.

ANKO represents some 70% of Dutch hairdressing salons.