Unions want social agreement without savings target
After the first talks, FNV says the discussions should not focus on meeting a pre-set amount.
Follow-up to: Government and social partners begin talks on agreement Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 06:37
The trade unions do not want to be bound by a pre-set savings amount in negotiations on a social agreement. After talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Minister Hans Vijlbrief, FNV chair Hans Spekman said there must be room to discuss the substance without pressure to meet a financial target.
The meeting took place on Wednesday at the Catshuis, after talks between the cabinet, trade unions and employers’ organisations had begun. Topics include social security, helping people move from one job to another, sustainable employability, and the future of WW and WIA.
The tension centres on whether a social agreement should also deliver savings. The cabinet previously included major savings on social security in the budget. Under pressure from the trade unions, concrete proposals, including an accelerated increase in the state pension age, have been temporarily withdrawn or removed from the immediate budget plans.
FNV now says there should be no instruction to deliver a particular amount. That does not mean the unions reject all changes. They do want to be able to negotiate themselves on measures that help workers find jobs more quickly, continue working in good health and retain income security.
The cabinet, meanwhile, remains committed to making public finances sustainable in the longer term. Prime Minister Jetten previously said that the cabinet and the social partners were seeking substantive solutions and would later have to assess the size of the savings generated by an agreement. This leaves a difference between the unions’ negotiating approach and the cabinet’s financial objective.
Employers’ organisations have their own interest in an agreement. They want more attention paid to the labour market, training and companies’ earning capacity. At the same time, they fear that higher costs or a less flexible system could damage competitiveness. It is not yet clear to employers either which concrete measures will be on the table.
The coming talks will show whether the parties can produce a joint package. Until there is an agreement, the existing rules on AOW, WW and WIA will remain in force. The cabinet can submit proposals to the Lower House again later, but this requires political support, which cannot be taken for granted with a minority cabinet.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The cabinet, trade unions and employers’ organisations are negotiating a social agreement.
- FNV does not want a pre-imposed savings amount as a starting point.
- The cabinet wants to make social security financially sustainable in the longer term.
- The substance of any agreement has not yet been established.
Left
Arguments A social agreement should not begin with an instruction to make benefits and public services cheaper. The consequences for workers and people receiving benefits should come first; savings should not be an end in themselves.
Values Security of existence, solidarity and protection of workers.
Consequences This approach could better protect income security, but could mean that the cabinet has to find money elsewhere or accept higher costs.
Centre
Arguments An agreement should provide both social protection and financial sustainability. It is sensible to discuss substantive measures first and only then determine which budgetary effects are achievable.
Values Public support, practicality and institutional consultation.
Consequences A compromise could produce more stable policy, but there is a risk that the parties will postpone the difficult choices.
Right
Arguments Social security must remain affordable and work must pay more. Without concrete savings or reforms, costs risk being passed on to future generations and businesses.
Values Financial responsibility, labour-force participation and intergenerational fairness.
Consequences Reforms could strengthen public finances, but could also lead to less security or greater pressure on people who cannot easily work.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The new development has been confirmed by reporting on the talks and by the cabinet’s official context. The text distinguishes between FNV’s position, the cabinet’s financial objective and the outcome, which remains open.
- confirmed FNV says it does not feel under an instruction to achieve a pre-determined amount of savings. — FNV chair Hans Spekman was quoted on this after the talks. source
- confirmed The cabinet, trade unions and employers are discussing social security, work and WIA. — NOS describes the topics and the start of the talks. source
- confirmed The cabinet wants to achieve savings in the longer term through a social agreement. — This is stated in the official text of the Council of Ministers’ press conference. source
Editor's note
It is certain that FNV does not want a savings target imposed in advance and that the cabinet and social partners will continue talking. The substance of any agreement, the scale of possible savings and the political support for them remain uncertain.Sources
The story so far
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 06:37 Government and social partners begin talks on agreement
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 07:39 Cabinet and polder begin talks on WIA and work
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 16:40 Unions want social agreement without savings target (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „sociaal akkoord”
- Het Parool — „sociaal akkoord”
- Trouw — „sociaal akkoord”