October 28, 2019 – The SER (Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands) has set the guidelines for Works Council training costs 2020. The amount for a tailor-made course for the entire Works Council is set at 1055 euros per part of the day per Works Council (in 2019: 1025 euros, 2018: 1000 euros). This cost include the rate of the trainers and employees, the costs of preparation, implementation and aftercare of the course, any travel costs, the costs for overhead and training materials. The amount is all in and excluding VAT.
Guidelines
The SER sets the the amount annually on the recommendation of the Commission for the Promotion of Employee Participation (CBM). It provides an indication of what, under normal circumstances, are reasonable costs per part of the day for training and education of sufficient quality. It is therefore not a legal norm, but a guideline, intended to provide guidance to the Employer and the Works Council in their consultations on the training to be followed and the costs.
Right to Education
Works Council members have a legal right to training. The Employer is obliged to give the members of the Works Council the opportunity to receive the training they deem necessary for the performance of their duties for a minimum number of days per year, during working hours and with pay. The number of days is determined by the Employer and the Works Council in joint consultation. The Employer is obliged to pay the costs that are reasonably necessary for the training of Works Council members.
Cost of Accommodation
The SER does not provide a target amount for the costs of accommodation for tailor-made courses for the entire Works Council, because these costs can vary widely, as they depend on the location to be chosen.
