If, after the end of a year, it becomes clear that an employee has exceeded his or her contractually agreed working hours by more than 30%, the unemployment insurance contribution must be adjusted with retroactive effect. As a result of the coronavirus crisis, it has been decided that, for 2020 only, this adjustment does not have to be made.
Contracted hours exceeded by more than 30%?
If the number of hours for which an employee receives a wage (paid hours) exceed the contractually agreed hours (contracted hours) by more than 30% in the payroll tax return for the calendar year concerned, an adjustment must be made from the low (2.94%) to the high (7.94%) unemployment insurance contribution. A different situation only applies if at least 35 hours a week have been agreed. In such a case the above rule does not apply and, within the limits set by the Working Hours Act, unlimited overtime may be worked without the employer being required to switch from the low to the high unemployment insurance contribution.
Change
This rule is now having unintended consequences in sectors that need employees to work a considerable amount of additional overtime as a result of the coronavirus crisis, such as healthcare. The Labour Foundation has therefore asked for the rule to be amended. The government has promised to change it temporarily, i.e. for 2020 only.
Generic measure
A targeted sectoral measure would be extremely onerous to implement. For this reason it has been decided that a generic exception covering all employers will apply for 2020 in relation to adjustment of the unemployment insurance contribution in the above situation. A generic solution also avoids any uncertainty with regard to who falls under the exception and who does not.
Please note:
In concrete terms this means that, for 2020, employers do not have to adjust the unemployment insurance contribution on the basis of the situation outlined above.
To make this possible, the Decree adopting an order in council implementing the Social Insurance (Funding) Act and a number of other Acts (‘Besluit Wfsv’) is being amended. The regular situation regarding adjustment of the contribution will take effect again on 1 January 2021.