Following in the footsteps of Germany and France, the Netherlands too may now introduce a mandatory minimum wage for international truck drivers.
Minister Asscher made a commitment in a debate on labour migration to investigate a mandatory minimum wage for all drivers driving through the Netherlands. The minimum wage should prevent exploitation of foreign drivers and competition for Dutch drivers.
proliferation of national regulations
The introduction should ensure equal working conditions and a level playing field. Yet question marks are being raised from Brussels about this new regulation. For instance, it would violate the free movement of people and goods. In addition, it might create a proliferation of national regulations, which would cause transport companies to be surrounded by administration. One European regulation could possibly prevent such a patchwork.
Germany
Germany was the first in line to introduce the minimum wage for drivers. The country's transport sector was booking under competition from well-heeled drivers from nearby countries in Eastern Europe. The minimum wage there initially also applied to trucks in transit that were not loaded or unloaded in Germany, but that arrangement has now been suspended.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
