Collective labour agreements (CLAs) in Rotterdam often provide supplementary dismissal compensations in addition to the statutory transition payment, especially in sectors such as port logistics and construction. Article 7:673 paragraph 12 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) gives CLA provisions precedence if they are more favourable to the employee. Consider the Metal and Technology CLA, dominant in the Rotterdam port: this provides an 'old-style' compensation of 1 month's salary per year of service, which can be stacked on top of the transition payment.
Key Rotterdam sectors: Construction (Construction CLA with extras on top of transition, crucial for Maasvlakte projects), Care (Hospital CLA up to 1.5 months per year of service at institutions similar to MC Haaglanden) and Education (specific transition pots via PO-Raad, relevant for Rotterdam schools). Check your CLA via the CLA finder on cao.nl or consult local trade unions such as FNV Rotterdam. For secondary vocational schools (VSOs) in the Rijnmond region, the total arrangement must not be less favourable than the transition payment plus fair compensation.
In 2025, CLAs in Rotterdam remain flexible due to the tight labour market, while the Transition Payment Compensation Act encourages employers to form pots for long-term port and logistics employees. Benefits: higher payouts, outplacement via local agencies and sometimes reallocation within the region. Disadvantage: more complex calculations due to CLA variations per industry.
Tip: Engage trade union support at the Rotterdam FNV office for negotiations. In disputes, the subdistrict court in Rotterdam decides based on the CLA text and local case law.