Many people in the Netherlands work part-time. Some of them would quite like to work more but do not, for example, because they think it is not worth their while. Some do not know how to balance working more hours with looking after children or parents. The ‘Meer Uren werkt!’ programme will investigate how people who would like to work more can actually do so.
The ultimate aim is to create a new culture of part-time work in which part-time workers who wish can regularly work an average of 2.7 more hours per week.
Reducing staff shortages
The tight labour market is, for example, leading to waiting lists for childcare and care services. Schoolchildren are sometimes even sent home because no teacher is available. If people currently working part-time were to work more hours, this would help to alleviate the labour market shortage. It would also contribute to their economic independence.
About the programme
The ‘More Hours Work!’ programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and Utrecht University. They are working in partnership with social partners in the care and welfare sectors, primary education and childcare, employers’ and employees’ organisations, local authorities and provincial authorities, research institutions and other ministries.
What are we going to do?
Part-time workers must be able to work additional hours without issue. This can be achieved, for example, through:
- more flexible working hours;
- support with informal care;
- revising job descriptions;
- combining tasks or roles;
- providing insight into how much more money you’ll have left over if you work more hours;
- treating men and women equally when it comes to support with care responsibilities.
We will then conduct scientific research into these solutions in practice to determine what really works. This will give us an understanding of what works and where, so that the entire labour market can benefit.
A new feature of this programme is its scientific approach. Before rolling out a solution across the entire labour market, we assess why a particular approach is effective and whether we expect the solution to work on a larger scale or in a different sector. Funding is available for this first phase of the programme.
Trade associations, employers’ and employees’ organisations, and R&D funds can apply for this grant in collaboration with an organisation that will implement the interventions (intervention partner). In this way, they can contribute to research into solutions that enable part-time workers to work more hours.
