Three Dutch Soft Law InstrumentsShort Introduction

Rob Triemstra

Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

Occupational Safety and Health Directorate

The Netherlands

Soft Law Policy Instruments

• Made to measure, not one size fits all.• In combination with, or beyond legislation.• Solving problems in working conditions where regulation meets its limits• On voluntary basis with little financial support• Role of the government: from decision-maker to participant in the Policy

Arena.

Covenants

• Agreements between employers, employees and the government.• Measures to reduce work-pressure and physical stress.• Measures to reduce illness-related absenteeism and the number of

people unfit for work. • Measures to reduce exposure to occupational hazards.

Improving occupational safety

• Line 1: safety improvement projects

– Employers and employees jointly responsible for safe working conditions.

– Encourages and supports employees and employers in this regard.

– Aim to reduce the number of accidents in selected companies up to 10-15 %.

– Changing behavior is the central issue.

• Line 2: risk management system

Improving policy on working with hazardous substances

• Stimulates cooperation, upstream and downstream, from producers to end-users of hazardous substances.

• The instrument does so in order to improve information about substances that accompanies (chemical) products to prevent harm.

• Encourages and supports self-motivation• Aim to achieve lasting improvement in working with hazardous substances• Special focus on SME’s

Concluding remarks

• Commitment, cooperation and creativity are crucial factors in working with involved stakeholders, but we think it’s worth being able to choose your instruments freely in cooperation with involved parties.