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What does the SER do?

The SER advises

SER's most common task is to advise the government and parliament on the broad outlines of socio-economic policy. The council provides both solicited and unsolicited advice. The advice of the SER is public and covers a wide variety of socio-economic topics, such as the labour market, pensions and education.

The SER also advises on important topics such as healthcare, the environment and energy, with an emphasis on the socio-economic perspective. You can read more about the SER Work Agenda on this page.

The SER sets the agenda

The SER ensures that there is a dialogue on socio-economic issues. This is often in preparation for advice to gain support or in response to advice published by the organisation. An example is the action agenda Lifelong Development.

The SER also draws attention to the subject of Diversity and Inclusion and does so in various ways, via the SER Diversity Portal, SER Top Women, SER Diversity and Business (more information on this page) and Diversity Day.

The SER connects

The SER brings together various organisations within society. These are not only the parties represented in the council, but also many other organisations. An example of this is the covenants for International Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies, civil society organisations, trade unions and the government enter into agreements within covenants to tackle abuses in international production chains. They are covenants such as TruStone and Renewable Energy.

In addition, the SER has its own youth platform, where young people from different organisations come together to share their views on socio-economic policy.

The SER administrates

The Social and Economic Council (SER) performs administrative tasks in a number of areas.

Employee participation
The SER has the statutory task of promoting employee participation in companies and organisations. This is achieved, for example, by providing advice to the government and useful tools and guidelines to members of works councils and other target groups, but also through the Joint Sectoral Committee and SCORE RMZO.

Pre-employment medical examinations
The SER provides information about the Medical Examinations Act [Wet op de medische keuringen] and handles complaints about violations of that law.

The SER supports self-regulation

The SER also supports various forms of self-regulation as a supplement to or alternative to statutory rules. These are regulations and agreements that are drawn up, implemented and enforced by the relevant organisations themselves.

General Terms and Conditions for consumers
The SER helps business and consumer organisations in their negotiations on balanced General Terms and Conditions. General terms and conditions are the so-called small print in a purchase or other agreement between consumers and businesses.

Merger Code of Conduct 
Entrepreneurs, employees and Crown-appointed members have agreed on a Code of Conduct in the SER for companies that are faced with a merger. The SER monitors compliance with and handles complaints about violations of this Merger Code of Conduct.

• Merger Code 2015 (PDF, 3822 kB)
• Download the form to send a notification to the Council secretariat (PDF, 96 kB)

Health and safe work practices
The SER facilitates a number of matters related to working conditions. For example, the SER manages the Database Limit Values for Substances in the Workplace and the Occupational Health and Safety Platform.

How does the SER work?

The SER discusses the advice and other activities in committees and at the monthly council meetings. A ministerial representative is usually present during these. The SER secretariat does the actual work. For more information about the Council's working methods and the preparation of advice, please read the SER brochure for the general public.