The Netherlands: EIRO CAR on "SMEs in the crisis: Employment, Industrial Relations and Local Partnership"

SMEs are of major importance to the Dutch economy and its employment. As the economic crisis of 2008 onwards once again demonstrated, small and medium sized companies are in particular vulnerable to the economic conjuncture. In cooperation with the social partners, the Dutch government has taken measures to lighten the burden on employers and employees, including SMEs. Some of these measures presume involvement of the social partners, also at local level, where implementation takes place.