For the work that you do in the Netherlands it is taken into account, among other things, the function, work experience, age and the educational level of the employee. The salary is calculated on a start time period, for instance per month, four weeks or hour.

When you work in the Netherlands you will at least earn the legal minimum wage. An employer is not allowed to pay less, more is of course possible. The amount of the minimum wage is determined twice per year (January 1st / July 1st) by the Dutch government.

More information about the minimum wage can be found here:

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/minimumloon

Are you below 22 years old then you have the right for the minimum youth wage.

For more information about the minimum youth wage, click here:

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/minimumloon/vraag-en-antwoord/minimumloon-per-uur

Gross & Nett salary

In the Netherlands we use gross and nett salary. You find these amounts on different places in your contract, the collective agreement and on your payslip. What is exactly the difference between the gross and nett salary?

Gross salary

This is the salary where no taxes and social insurances are subtracted. This is also the amount as agreed upon in your contract. Dependent of the amount of your salary, certain percentag of your salary is subtracted. Do you become ill, get unemployed or retire? Then a settlement is payed out of this money. The settlement is in most cases payed out by the Dutch government.

Nett salary

This is the salary that is left after the taxes and premiums are subtracted of the gross salary. This is in most cases the salary that eventually will be payed out on your bank account.

Collective Labour Agreement

The agriculture sector in the Netherlands most often uses  individual cao’s. CAO are collective agreements between employers, employee organisations and trade unions, regarding Employment contract, conditions of employment and other items such as: wages, overtime, supplements, work times, probation, notice period and retirement. The government has no part in these agreements.

More information about the most common individual cao’s in the agriculture sector in the Netherlands can be found here:

Cao outdoor cultivations http://werkgeverslijn.nl/content/cao-open-teelten-0

Cao animal husbandry http://werkgeverslijn.nl/content/cao-dierhouderij

Cao greenhouse http://werkgeverslijn.nl/content/cao-glastuinbouw