Doing Business in the Netherlands 2012 - American Chamber of ...

Doing Business in the Netherlands 2012
After the wage-related benefit, employees could be entitled to benefits
which are supplementing their salary (loonaanvulling) or which are a
percentage of the minimum wage (vervolguitkering).
Individuals who are less than 35% disabled (but who earn more than
65% of the maximum hourly wage) (maatman inkomen per uur) are
not eligible for WGA benefits or IVA benefits.
The WGA and IVA contributions are paid by the employer. The basic
WGA and IVA contribution is equal for all employers (in 2011,
5.10% of the income assessable for national insurance).
The percentage of the differentiated WGA contribution depends on
the disability risk of the company and whether the employers decided
to either self-fund this disability benefit and/or to insure this risk with
private insurers or pay contributions to a government agency
(Authority for Employee Insurance, UWV).
15.5.4 Unemployment Insurance Act (Werkloosheidswet or WW)
The WW insures employees and civil servants under certain
conditions against the financial consequences of unemployment. The
WW benefit for the first two months is 75% of the most recent salary
(maximized by the maximum day wage) and 70% from then on. The
duration of the benefit will depend on the labor history of the
employee and whether the employee meets certain conditions, e.g.,
not receiving other benefits (like IVA or WGA benefits).
15.5.5 The New National Assistance Act (Nieuwe Algemene
Bijstandswet or NABW)
The NABW helps people to provide basic living standards for
themselves when they are not entitled to any other benefit.
Temporarily, certain reductions to the social insurance contributions
may apply for employers who will hire special employees [for
example, disabled or older (above the age of 50) employees] or who
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