Increasing the minimum wage in sectors such as the transport sector is not a luxury, but a necessity in the fight against poverty.
The outgoing cabinet has its hands full after the summer break. With a clear warning from the Central Planning Bureau (CPB) about increasing poverty and a budget for 2024 that is approaching, the concerns are great. There is also an urgent need for an increase in the minimum wage within the transport sector.
Trade union FNV rightly sounds the alarm. According to the union, the minimum wage should be raised to € 16 per hour to combat growing poverty in the Netherlands. In addition, they advocate a further increase in the rent and care allowance and the child-related budget. Tuur Elzinga, chairman of the FNV, speaks clearly: “Although the cabinet is outgoing, it should not hide behind this. There is a constitutional duty to provide security for everyone in this country.”
The CPB underlines the urgency of this message by warning that if no action is taken by the outgoing cabinet, poverty in the Netherlands will increase rapidly. With companies recording record profits, there is a danger that a million people will be living below the poverty line by 2024.
The FNV has in the past already pushed for a minimum wage of € 14, which corresponded to 60% of the median income. But inflation has overtaken this standard, making this amount insufficient for many.
The image of employees from sheltered employment who camp on the Plein in The Hague in protest against their low wages is heartbreaking. And as Elzinga rightly points out, if no action is taken, this may not be just a protest, but a harsh reality for many.
Although the CPB states that there is some improvement in purchasing power, it is not enough to compensate for the financial setbacks of recent years. Those hardest hit are those on lower incomes and benefit recipients.
although it caretaker cabinet should exercise restraint, the CPB points to the increasing danger of poverty. If no action is taken, poverty could become a reality for 5,7% of the total population and 7% of all children will grow up in poverty.
As we look forward to the details of the budget for 2024 and Budget Day, it is clear that action must be taken. Increasing the minimum wage in sectors such as the transport sector is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is time for the cabinet to fulfill its constitutional duty and to take care of all Dutch people.