The Netherlands has an excellent work-life balance — thanks to the many employee benefits offered in the country.

Employee benefits in the Netherlands fall under three categories:

Who’s Eligible for Employee Benefits in the Netherlands?

As per Dutch labour and employment laws, 

everyone with an employment contract in the Netherlands

But these benefits can vary based on the employment contract, salary, and workweek.

Plus, as an employer, you can also provide extra benefits to employees to make the job package more enticing. 

10 Mandatory Employee Benefits in the Netherlands

Companies in the Netherlands must provide certain statutory benefits, such as:

1. Minimum Wage and Maximum Working Hours

is updated biannually — in January and July. 

The minimum wage for a full-time employee over 21 years of age (as of January 2023) is:

 is 60 hours a week with a limit of 12 hours in a shift. 

Employees may only work a few 60-hour weeks provided they maintain a maximum term-based average of:

Most full-time employees in the Netherlands work between 36-40 hours over 4-5 days. This comprises an average work time of 7-8 hours per day in a single shift, which doesn’t account for breaks. 

A minimum notice period must be given whether an employer lets go of staff (on a permanent contract) or an employee terminates their employment.

As per Dutch law, here are the maximum dismissal notice period terms an employer must give an employee (based on their length of employment):

For an employee, the statutory resignation notice period is 1 month. But if it’s set for over a month, the employer’s dismissal notice period must be twice the amount — up to a maximum of 6 months.

Employers must have a valid reason for termination, which the employee must corroborate. 

An employer must record the terms of dismissal in a written statement if it’s mutual. They must also provide a transition payment if the employee has been in the position for at least two years. 

However, employees can take 14 days to revoke their agreement to a dismissal, and they can do so without providing a reason. 

In that case, the termination isn’t mutual, and the employer needs approval from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) to terminate the employment.

Employees are entitled to annual holiday leaves that amount to

 (whether they work a part-time or full-time workweek). 

This could mean 20 working days (excluding public holidays) if employees work 40-hour weeks. 

Employees must use leftover PTO days within the first six months of the new year, or they expire. 

Employers can’t pay out unused PTO days in the Netherlands unless the employment contract expires or the employee is dismissed.

Employees are entitled to sick leave (with no fixed limits), provided they inform employers about their absence before the start of the working day. 

An employee who’s sick for an extended period (due to burnout, disability, or illness) is entitled to 70% of their 

. The amount cannot be lower than the minimum wage.

Employees who call in sick due to pregnancy or organ donation are entitled to 100% of their salary. 

Basic health insurance, which covers standard care from general practitioners, chemists, and hospitals, is mandatory for all employees. 

Per the Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw), employers must contribute a part of the basic insurance amount — 

at least 6.7% of the employee’s gross yearly wage

If you want your employees to be healthy and productive, you can offer them healthcare coverage beyond basic health insurance.

Yonder can help you offer employees basic health insurance mandated by the government and even provide additional healthcare packages to your team.

Every employee is entitled to a holiday allowance, giving them extra cash to enjoy holidays.   

 8% of an employee’s gross yearly wage 

(or 8% of their gross wage since the last holiday allowance payment). 

7. Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave

All employees are entitled to these benefits:

Employers can apply for an allowance from the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, UWV) to cover the daily wage of employees on paid parental, paternity, or maternity leave.

Individuals in the following occupations groups are entitled to an occupational pension fund:

The Dutch social welfare system ensures all employees get social insurance. 

Employer contributions and a portion withheld from an employee’s salary (treated as income tax or payroll tax) fund social welfare. 

The total social security contributions amount to 27.65% of an employee’s yearly wage. 

Employees are entitled to certain insurance schemes and benefits based on the country’s legislation, including:

Employers must pay the premiums for these employee insurance schemes.

6 Supplementary Employee Benefits Dutch Companies Offer

Below are additional benefits you could offer in an employee contract:

4 Common Employee Perks in the Netherlands

As an employer, you could offer these fringe benefits to boost employee satisfaction:

Negotiating Supplementary Employee Benefits and Perks

While employers must provide statutory employee benefits, you 

negotiate secondary benefits and perks with employees.

You could also ask for their input on additional benefits you don’t currently offer in the Netherlands.

 Discuss expectations for benefits and perks from the get-go. This will give your future employees enough time to review and discuss the benefits you offer, and gives you time to consider whether you can meet their expectations. 

20 Popular Employee Benefits in the Netherlands (2023 Guide)]

20 Popular Employee Benefits in the Netherlands [2023 Guide]

Invalidity Pension is an Irish social insurance payment made to people who cannot work due to a long-term illness or disability.

If you are planning to apply for Invalidity Pension, you must be thinking:

Read on to get answers to these questions and more about Invalidity Pension.

 payment made to people covered by social insurance (PRSI) who cannot work due to prolonged sickness or disability.

When you receive Invalidity Pension, you are also eligible for other social welfare benefits, such as:

You can receive Invalidity Pension up to age 66, at which point you are automatically transferred to the full rate of the State Pension (Contributory).

Let’s examine the qualifying conditions you must fulfil to get Invalidity Pension.

To qualify for Invalidity Pension, you must meet certain medical and social insurance (PRSI) conditions.

A Deciding Officer from the DSP (Department of Social Protection) 

 determine that you meet the medical criteria to qualify for Invalidity Pension.

Only the following PRSI classes can apply for Invalidity Pension:

To qualify for Invalidity Pension, you must meet both of the following conditions for PRSI contributions:

The DSP will then decide the relevant start date for your Invalidity Pension. 

Can I work while receiving Invalidity Pension?

People in receipt of Invalidity Pension cannot do paid work.

If you want to return to employment or self-employment, you must transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit.

You can qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit only if the limitation on your capacity for work is moderate, severe, or profound.

However, to continue receiving your Invalidity Pension payment while attending education or training courses, you should contact the Invalidity Pension section and obtain written permission.

To receive Invalidity Pension, you must meet the medical conditions and social insurance contributions and apply on time.

But when is the right time to apply for Invalidity Pension?

You can apply any time after completing one year of incapacity for work — there is no specific date of application.

You can also apply before the completion of your one-year period only if a medical professional has prescribed it and you fulfil the appropriate medical criteria and PRSI conditions we discussed above.

Let’s see how much you are entitled to receive in Invalidity Pension payments.

Invalidity Pension is paid at a maximum personal rate of

You may get an increase on your Invalidity Pension rate if you have any adult or child dependants.

For qualified adult dependants, you get a maximum increase of €161.10 on your Invalidity Pension payment, but the rate of invalidity pension will depend upon their income.

You can obtain an increase on Invalidity Pension for adult dependants if: 

If you have a child dependant(s), you will get an increase based on your child’s age.

If your child is under 12 years of age, you get an increase of:

If your child’s age is 12 years or above, you get an increase of:

You won’t get an increase in your payment for child dependants if your spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant has weekly earnings of more than €400. 

But you may get a half-rate increase for a child dependant if your spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant earns between €310 and €400 a week.

Do You Need to Pay Tax on Invalidity Pension?

Invalidity Pension is taxable — it may be taxed fully or at a specific amount based on your circumstances. 

The Department of Social Protection does not deduct taxes before making the Invalidity Pension payment. 

But to ensure the correct tax amount is paid, they will inform the Revenue about the taxable amount to be taken from Invalidity Pension for income tax purposes.

So you won’t have to do anything to pay the correct tax amount. 

Let’s now check when you can expect to receive your Invalidity Pension payment.

Invalidity Pension has no specified payment date. You can receive it on any day from Monday to Saturday.

The Invalidity Pension payment is made until the claimant: 

Once the claimant resumes work, they must submit medical evidence, i.e., final medical certificates showing they are well enough to continue employment, after which the Invalidity Pension payment is discontinued.

To apply for Invalidity Pension, you must fill out the Invalidity Pension form (

The form is available online at gov.ie, but you can also get it from your Intreo Center or the Social Welfare Branch Office.

Here are some details you will need to fill out in your INV1 form:

Have you received Illness Benefit for 468 days?

You may be able to transfer from Illness Benefit to Invalidity Pension. 

You will have to complete the medical assessment conducted by the DSP. This will help them determine if you continue to qualify for Illness Benefit 

meet the Invalidity Pension requirements.

If you meet the qualifying conditions for Invalidity Pension in your medical assessment, you will receive a new Invalidity Pension form (INV2) to apply for Invalidity Pension.

Once you have completed your INV1 or INV2 application form, submit your Invalidity Pension application to the following address:

You can also contact the department for support at: 

: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d148b9-invalidity-pension/

Did you know that the Government of Ireland provides employability services to help people on Invalidity Pension easily find work opportunities post-recovery?

Invalidity Pension in Ireland: Eligibility, Coverage & How to Apply

Social welfare payments like Illness Benefit can support people who cannot work due to an illness or disability. 

But is it viable for a long-term illness?

How Long Can You Stay on Illness Benefit?

Illness Benefit (IB) is a social welfare payment covered by the Department of Social Protection in Ireland. 

It’s different from Sick Pay, which your employer covers (as outlined in the Sick Leave Act 2022).

You can stay on its payments for at most:

Looking for a long-term Illness Benefit payment?

If you’ve been receiving Illness Benefit for over six months, you could apply for benefits schemes with long-term payments. We’ll cover a few options next.

What Benefits Can You Get With a Long-Term Illness?

If you need more extended coverage than what Illness Benefit provides, you could apply for:

Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who can’t work due to a long-term illness or disability. 

Its rate of payment is €225.50 a week (plus more for dependants).

You may qualify for Invalidity Pension if:

Invalidity Pension Application Form (INV1)

 and submit it with supporting documents to:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d148b9-invalidity-pension/

Disability Allowance is a payment to people with a disability. 

It pays €220 a week, plus extra for dependants.

This payment differs from Disablement Benefit, which is paid under the Occupational Injuries Benefit. You’d have to be injured at work to qualify for that. 

You may qualify for Disability Allowance if:

Disability Allowance Application Form (DA1)

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df6811-disability-allowance/

What Other Entitlement Can You Get for a Long-Term Illness or Disability?

Below are other entitlements that you could get.

The long-term illness scheme is similar to the Medical Card or GP visit card scheme by the Health Service Executive (HSE). 

However, it only entitles you to free medicines, drugs, and medical appliances for the treatment of 

People with illnesses covered by this scheme who live in Ireland and intend to live there for at least a year.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly payment for people who don’t earn enough to meet their family’s needs. 

Its pay rate starts from €129.70 or €218 per week, depending on your age and whether you live independently. 

People who live in Ireland and have no income (or low income based on the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for their family’s size). 

You can also apply if you’re waiting for a social welfare payment to start while you have no other income.

Blind Pension is a social welfare payment with a weekly rate of €220. It also entitles you to a Free Travel Pass (to travel on State transport in Ireland for free).

Partial Capacity Benefit supports people who return to work or self-employment after experiencing a reduced capacity due to an illness. 

It entitles them to a social welfare payment of €110 or more, depending on the severity of their capacity restriction.

People who are (or were) receiving Illness Benefit (for at least six months) or Invalidity Pension. 

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a payment for providing care to a child with a severe disability. 

It’s separate from Carer’s Allowance and pays €330 monthly per child you look after.

Moreover, the carer or the one claiming this benefit scheme must:

Support Your Employee’s Well-Being With Yonder

Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension, and Disability Allowance provide income support to people who can’t work due to ill health or a disability.

As an employer, if you want to do more to support the well-being of your team, you could offer them the best health insurance packages.

 to strengthen your employees’ illness benefits in Ireland.

Long-Term Illness Benefit in Ireland: Applicable Benefits

Ireland's Illness Benefit contact number is 

Let's explore how you can contact the Illness Benefit section of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to learn about eligibility, claim forms, personal rate, and more.

Illness Benefit Contact Number and Address in Ireland

In Ireland, Illness Benefit payment is given to people with long-term illnesses or disabilities.

If you want to apply for Illness Benefit or need more information, you can reach out to the Illness Benefit section of the Department of Social Protection. 

www.gov.ie/en/service/ddf6e3-illness-benefit

For further information on Illness Benefit, PRSI contributions, and other social welfare payments in the Republic of Ireland:

Find the Perfect-Fit Health Coverage Plans with Yonder

Illness Benefit can help with occupational injury, surgery, medical treatment, or chronic conditions that impact an employee's ability to work. 

Set your contribution, add your employees, and your team can enrol in local benefits quicker than you can make a cuppa.

 that fits their needs best. They can further personalise their 

 with add-ons for optical examinations or complementary therapies like 

What Is the Illness Benefit Contact Number & Address in Ireland?

Enhanced Illness Benefit in Ireland was a social welfare payment for people diagnosed with Covid-19 or who had to self-isolate as per the instruction of a doctor.

So what should you do if you have Covid-19 now?  

You can apply for the regular financial aid the Irish Government offers sick workers.

Let’s discuss the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit and the alternative options Covid-19 patients currently have.

As stated before, you can no longer avail of the Enhanced Illness Benefit payment. 

The provision was an extension of the standard Illness Benefit and offered a higher rate of payment (€350/week). 

The Enhanced Illness Benefit was first introduced in March 2020 and aimed to incentivise employed and self-employed people to self-isolate if they contracted Covid-19.

The Irish Government aimed to extend the benefit till Covid-19 is no longer a public health risk.

So, this increased sick pay benefit came with a sunset clause, meaning it could end on a specified date.

The Irish Government has also ended other Covid-19 related provisions, like the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (Covid-PUP).

If you’re diagnosed with Coronavirus or advised to self-isolate (either at home or a medical facility) by your GP after 30th September, you can apply for the standard Illness Benefit.

This is a financial aid the Irish Government provides (subject to PRSI contributions and other conditions) if you cannot work due to sickness.

Let’s examine how the enhanced and standard rate Illness Benefits differ.

The Enhanced Illness Benefit was paid at a weekly rate of €350. It could be paid on any day of the week, excluding Sundays.

The weekly rate of Illness Benefit depends on your average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. It starts at €98.70/week for anyone making less than €150 weekly and goes up to €220/week for those who earn €300 or more.

Additionally, the standard Illness Benefit has a waiting period of three days, unlike the enhanced rate payment, which started immediately. 

You could also get additional payment on top of Illness Benefit if you have any adult and child dependants.

The Enhanced Illness Benefit was payable for:

You can claim entitlement to standard Illness Benefit for a maximum of 

 (624 payment days) — subject to your PRSI contributions and the nature of your illness.

So, how do Covid-19 patients apply for Illness Benefit?

If you apply offline, you’ll need these documents from your GP: 

You can also request an IB1 form by phone or email and provide your full name and address:

Then, send the completed documents (the IB1 application form and the medical certification) via Freepost to the following address:

Apply online using the Illness Benefit option on 

through your verified MyGovID account. If you don't have a MyGovID account, you must provide employment and personal details like your PPS number.

Simplify Employee Health Insurance With Yonder

The Enhanced Illness Benefit supported Covid-19 patients while it lasted. 

While people can still avail of the standard Illness Benefit, the lower payment rate may not provide the required support.

As an employer, you’d want to offer more comprehensive healthcare support to your sick team members.

 and retirement benefits to your employees without the hassle of brokers, paperwork, or admin overheads.

Once you’ve decided on your contribution, team members can pick a personalised benefits package per their needs.

20 Popular Employee Benefits in the Netherlands (2023 Guide)]

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