MPs are satisfied with the bonus of 1000 euros net for the healthcare staff for their efforts during the corona crisis. “A great amount,” said GroenLinks leader Klaver during the debate about the relaxed corona rules. But that one-off bonus is definitely not enough, say PVV, GroenLinks, SP and PvdA. According to them, the Cabinet should realize a structural salary increase for this group of healthcare staff as soon as possible.
And there the shoe pinches. The government parties VVD, CDA and D66 recognize that something must definitely be done. But the coalition parties say that it is not the cabinet, but the employers must ensure that the workload decreases, that the administrative burden is reduced and that the salary is increased. “I wish everyone a higher salary, but that is up to the employer and not to us,” said VVD MP Veldman. He believes opposition parties are “simplifying” the matter. “We are not about it.”
The cabinet may only come to the rescue if the employers and employees cannot work it out together. “If it turns out that there are unbridgeable bottlenecks, we will talk to each other,” says Veldman. D66 wants the minister to see if he can help with problems between employers and employees about a higher salary and less work pressure. The position scorned the opposition. “It remains with applause,” PvdA leader Asscher snapped at D66’s Jetten.
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