Before you sign, identify both your contract and any applicable CAO. The CAO can contain important rules on salary scales, working time, allowances, leave, pensions and procedures that are not obvious from the offer email.

Offer checklist

  • Employer/legal entity and job title
  • Start date and fixed-term or indefinite duration
  • Hours and work pattern; on-call/min-max/agency status if applicable
  • Gross salary and payment frequency
  • Holiday allowance and holiday entitlement
  • Applicable CAO and salary scale
  • Probation and notice period
  • Pension scheme
  • Travel/home-working/expense arrangements
  • Overtime/irregular-hours arrangements
  • Training rights/obligations
  • Non-compete/non-solicitation or ancillary-activity clauses

Fixed-term, permanent and flexible work

Dutch law distinguishes several employment arrangements. Do not infer your rights merely from labels such as “freelance”, “temporary” or “zero hours”; the actual relationship and applicable rules matter. Agency workers should also check which agency-work CAO applies.