There are a number of professions for which the monthly income is disappointing. These are often tough jobs that require a lot of energy. The income of postal workers, taxi drivers and construction workers is often low. According to the FNV, there are 1.25 million people in the Netherlands who perform low-paid work. They assume that employees with an hourly wage of less than ten euros (gross) per hour are poorly paid. This not only concerns people who perform unskilled work, but also people with secondary education. Compared to thirty years ago, there are now twice as many low-income workers.
Occupation: postal workers
Income of postal worker: maximum 40 percent of the minimum wage
Nowadays, postal companies work with mail deliverers who are no longer offered a permanent contract, but a contract of assignment. This has the major disadvantage for the employee that they do not receive wages in the event of illness or during vacation. They also do not accrue any right to unemployment benefits. This has the advantage for the employer that they do not have to pay employee insurance premiums. The mail deliverers are deployed less than two days a week per person.
Occupation: employee in a supermarket
Income in a supermarket: minimum youth wage
According to the FNV, 65 percent of supermarket staff are younger than 22 years old. When employees turn 23. Are they entitled to the minimum wage for adults? The supermarkets prefer to have very young employees. A lower minimum wage applies to a 17 year old than to employees of, for example, 21 years old. In general, they are all temporary contracts that can be terminated when the employees become too expensive (read: too old).
Occupation: domestic help
Income of a domestic worker: often below the minimum wage, paid undeclared
More than one million families use domestic help. These are often activities that are carried out undeclared, with the domestic help and the family making agreements about the amount of compensation. As a result, the worker has no rights to unemployment benefit or pension, for example. In the event of illness or vacation, no wages will be paid.
Occupation: cleaners
Income of a cleaner: minimum wage
About ninety percent of cleaners are women. In total, there are approximately 150,000 cleaners active in our country. These are professions that only pay more than the minimum wage in exceptional cases. The work is heavy and often has to be carried out in the evenings or very early in the morning.
Occupation: construction workers
Income of a construction worker: It varies from the minimum wage to an average income
Many construction workers have a reasonable to good income. Unfortunately, there are many employment agencies active in the construction industry that withhold too much money at the expense of the construction workers. The victims are often employees from Eastern Europe with little knowledge of their rights.
Occupation: temporary worker
Income of a temporary worker: In most cases it will not be more than the minimum wage
There are approximately 1.9 million flex workers in the Netherlands, some of whom are temporary workers. A number of temporary workers consciously choose to remain flexible on the labor market, but the vast majority will be flexible out of necessity. The moment they legally qualify for a permanent contract with an employer, the temporary worker is sent away again.
Occupation: taxi drivers
Income of a taxi driver: barely or even less than the minimum wage
In the taxi sector, approximately 8,000 people work in street taxis. In order not to employ permanent staff, temporary contracts are used as much as possible. Street taxi drivers often receive tips, but other drivers (school buses, disabled transport) do not receive tips and earn poorly.