Labour parliamentarian Mariëtte Hamer has been named chairwoman of the government’s advisory body SER, replacing Wiebe Draijer who has gone to Rabobank.

The Sociaal Economische Raad or SER is one of the government’s most important advisory bodies. The SER is composed of employers, trade unions and lay members and investigates policy ideas for the government.

The cabinet said Hamer is the best candidate because of her wide experience in the Dutch consensus economy and her broad support among unions and employers. She has been an MP since 1998 and led the PvdA in parliament from 2008 to 2011.