Domestic workers asked FairWork for sample letters that they can use to request a pay increase from their employer.
FairWork speaks to many domestic workers who work at people’s homes. They sometimes want to ask their employer for a raise, but they don’t always know how best to do this. We developed sample letters that they can use for this.
Domestic workers, like all employees in the Netherlands, are entitled to a minimum wage. Domestic workers who work through a company and have a collective labor agreement are also entitled to a salary increase once a year. But domestic workers who are not covered by a collective labor agreement are also entitled to holiday pay, paid holidays and continued payment of wages during illness in addition to the minimum wage. This is stated in the ILO Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and the Home Services Scheme.
Knowing your rights well is essential in preventing abuses and vulnerable work situations. The sample letters can help vulnerable domestic workers to claim their rights and improve their position.
We have developed a sample letter for people who work through a company and one for domestic workers who are directly employed by a private individual. The sample letters can be filled in with your own data and specific circumstances. They are also useful for domestic workers who are uncontracted or undocumented. Both versions are available in both Dutch and English.
Download sample letters pay increase for domestic workers:
Sample letter pay increase collective agreement
Sample letter pay increase without collective agreement
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