The Netherlands: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the cleaning activities sector

The cleaning sector is a small but important sector of the Dutch service economy, employing around 2% of the work force. Employers are organised in one association, the Employer Organisation Cleaning and Business Services, de Ondernemersorganisatie Schoonmaak- en Bedrijfsdiensten, OSB. Employees in the sector are organised, either by the unions of FNV or CNV, the two main employee organisations. These three parties conclude the collective labour agreement on behalf of the 750 members of OSB (110.000 employees). The coverage is 100% as the agreement is extended to the whole sector.