The chairman of the small firm lobby group MKB Nederland has told the Financieele Dagblad workers should no longer get extra wages for working at the weekend or evening.

Micahel van Straalen told the Financieele Dagblad supplements for working anti-social hours are old-fashioned. ‘We no longer live in 1960,’ he is quoted as saying.

‘The unions have to understand this is no longer an option. We no longer live in the Stone Age of the Flintstones’, he said. ‘The economy is flexible and has long left the 9 to 6 mentality behind. So we need to get radical with the supplements.’

Shops

For example, the extra pay rules make it difficult for small shopkeepers to compete by opening in the evening or at weekends, he said.

‘If our members raise the issue during pay negotiations, they are immediately in conflict,’ he said. ‘So I would urge the union movement: stop this now.’

Van Straalen took over at the helm of MKB Nederland in November after years as deputy chairman.