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What percentage of employers and employees are members of representative organisations?

The overwhelming majority of employers – about 90 percent – are members of an employers’ association. That is largely because membership of such an association offers employers clear advantages.

Approximately 25 percent of employees (1.8 million people) are members of a trade union. It is not always clear what employees have to gain by joining a trade union. After all, non-members and members alike enjoy the benefits of the union’s work, for example, coverage under a collective agreement. Nevertheless, trade unions have strong support in the Netherlands. Surveys have shown that the majority of all employees have a positive opinion of the trade unions.