Discussion about proposals to reform Dutch redundancy law failed to take place at Friday’s cabinet meeting because the social affairs ministry needs more time to complete the documents, the NRC said.

The measures form part of the five-party austerity package finalised last month. They will allow companies to sack staff without official permission and workers will then have to go to court to fight their dismissal.
Currently, companies have to apply either to the district courts or to the UWV state benefit agency for permission to sack staff with a permanent contract. The proposal also envisages large cuts in redundancy pay and making employers responsible for the first six months of unemployment benefit.
Loophole
According to the Volkskrant, social affairs minister Henk Kamp hopes the proposal will be debated in parliament before the summer recess and can then become law later in the year. The changes would come into effect in 2014, the paper said.
But the NRC said the legislation would not be published until after the September 12 general election, raising doubts about whether it will have majority support in parliament.
Earlier the cabinet was forced to delay two crucial tax changes because more time is needed to work out the details. Legislation to scrap the tax break on home-to-work travel and to limit mortgage tax relief has been postponed until after the September 12 election.