Dutch parliament debates landmark treaty to combat workplace violence and harassment
Starting tomorrow, the House of Representatives will discuss a groundbreaking treaty aimed at eliminating violence and intimidation in the workplace. This could strengthen protections for employees across the Netherlands, ensuring safer work environments through legal and preventive measures.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Treaty Adoption | Adopted by International Labour Conference (ILO) in Geneva, 2019 |
| Debate Date | March 31, 2026, 7:15 PM (live via Debat Direct) |
| Scope | Covers physical, psychological, sexual, and economic harm |
| Current Implementation | European Netherlands meets requirements; Caribbean Netherlands later |
| Minister Involved | Thierry Aartsen, Minister for Work and Participation |
| Legal Framework | Equal treatment legislation, labor law, and criminal law |
The Dutch House of Representatives plays a crucial role in ratifying international treaties, ensuring they align with national laws. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment oversees workplace regulations, aiming to protect employees and promote fair labor practices.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Debate on treaty to eliminate violence and intimidation in the workplace
The House of Representatives will debate on Tuesday, March 31, the approval of the treaty to eliminate violence and intimidation in the workplace. The Minister for Work and Participation, Thierry Aartsen, will attend the debate. The debate can be followed live from 7:15 PM via Debat Direct.
The treaty was adopted by the International Labour Conference (IAC) in 2019 in Geneva. The House of Representatives will debate the draft bill that makes this treaty legally binding for the European part of the Netherlands.
Comprehensive approach
The treaty defines violence and intimidation as behaviors that lead to physical, psychological, sexual, or economic harm. To address this, the treaty proposes a comprehensive approach, offering protection through equal treatment legislation, labor law, and criminal law. The provisions in the treaty focus on protection and prevention, enforcement and legal remedies, and on advice, training, and awareness.
Caribbean Netherlands
The legislation in European Netherlands already meets the treaty's requirements. However, this is not yet the case for the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba). The treaty will be implemented there at a later date. In the future, if the treaty can be approved for the Caribbean Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten will decide whether they also wish to implement it.
Follow live, read more, and watch the debate again
- Follow the debate live from 7:15 PM via Debat Direct. You can also watch it again later via this link.
- View the associated documents and read more about the draft bill.
- After the meeting, read the debate in brief.