Netherlands

Organization responsible for the statistics

The statistics are collected, compiled and published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

Objectives and users

Not available.

Coverage

Strikes and lockouts

The statistics cover: Working to rule, go-slows, overtime bans and sit-ins are not included.

Minimum threshold None.

Economic activities

No particular branches of economic activity or sectors are excluded.

Workers

Workers directly involved and workers indirectly involved. As well as regular paid employees, including part-time workers, the statistics cover temporary, casual and seasonal workers. Workers laid off and workers absent for any reason (sick leave, annual leave, etc.) are not included.

No particular occupational groups are excluded.

Geographic areas

Whole country.

Types of data collected

Concepts and definitions

Strike

The temporary cessation of work by employees in order to bring pressure on employers to agree to terms.

Lockout

The temporary cessation of activities by the employers in order to bring pressure on employees to agree to terms.

These are working definitions for statistical purposes.

Methods of measurement

Strikes and lockouts

The basic unit of measurement used to record a strike or lockout is the case of dispute. The continuation of a strike or lockout that is interrupted but later resumes, still due to the same case of dispute, is regarded as a continuation of the same strike or lockout if the period of interruption does not exceed one calendar year.

Work stoppages resulting from the same case of dispute, occurring simultaneously or at different times, in establishments of the same or different enterprises are treated as a single strike or lockout.

Economic units involved

Except for construction, the economic unit is the local unit, defined as a separate space or separate premises used by the enterprise for its activities, such as a factory, workshop, shop, office, clinic, home for the elderly, community centre, sports complex, etc. Premises or land of the enterprise which do not border on each other should be counted as separate local units. Different pieces of land of an agricultural, horticultural or forestry enterprise are counted as one local unit. The assignment of employees to the separate local units is based on the following considerations:

Workers involved

The number of workers involved is the average of the number of daily absences during the period of the strike or lockout. The number of full-time workers involved on a particular day of the strike or lockout is calculated by dividing the time not worked (measured in hours) on that day by the duration of the strike or lockout (in hours) on that day. In this way, part-time workers are thus converted to full-time equivalents.

Duration

The duration is based on the duration in the establishment or enterprise where the action lasted longest. In the case of more than one action in one enterprise or establishment arising from one dispute, the duration is the sum of the durations of each individual action. The duration is measured in hours and days which are usually worked, i.e. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are counted only if the workers involved would normally have worked on these days. If work is carried out in shifts, the duration is calculated by taking the average number of working hours during which the action lasted for each shift.

Time not worked

Total time not worked is measured in workhours, by ascertaining the total amount of time not worked on each day of the strike or lockout, and summing these totals. Time not worked is measured for all workers involved, whether directly or indirectly. The shorter working hours of part-time workers are taken into account, but not overtime.

Classifications

Cause of dispute

Method of settlement

Branch of economic activity

The statistics are classified by branch of economic activity using the CBS Standard Industrial Classification.

Duration

(in workdays)

Other

Reference period and periodicity

The statistics are compiled and published for periods of a month, a quarter and a year. They refer to strikes and lockouts beginning during the particular reference period plus those continuing from the previous period.

Analytical measures

Two sets of comparative measures are calculated: They are used for internal comparisons, and for comparisons with other countries.

Historical background of the series

Not available.

Documentation

Series available

Not available.

Bibliographic references

Central Bureau of Statistics: Sociaal-Economische Maandstatistiek (monthly).

Data published by the ILO

The number of strikes and lockouts, the number of workers involved, the number of days not worked and rates of days not worked, by economic activity.

Confidentiality

Not available.

International standards

Not available.

Methods of data collection

There is no legal obligation to report the occurrence of a strike or lockout. Information is obtained through enquiries at enterprises and institutions having previously announced industrial action in the press. The CBS sends questionnaires for the Enquête statistiek werkstakingen to companies or institutes after the termination of the action. The information about the commencement and termination of action is obtained via press releases. The Dutch national press bureau (ANP) collects relevant news items on a contractual basis for the CBS. Employers' and employees' organizations provide supplementary information.