VAN HOEK single undertakings. Their function is mainly political 14 They partake in the social ia logue which takes place in the Joint Labour Council (Stichting van de arbeid)and the Socal and Economic Council (see below) but neither the VNO-NCw nor the MKB are themselves parties to collective agreements. They do coordinate the negotations, however. 5 Collective agreements are closed by branchorganisation and/or(groups of) enterprises. There are quite a few branchorganisations, ometimes more than one within the same branch of industry 7 The largest and most influential is the FME-CWm, which since a merger in 1995 is the main representative of the employers in the steel industry, in synthetic fibres, electronics ind the electrotechnical industry. The membership of the FME-CWM includes multinational corporations like Philips, Stork and Corus Employers'organisations and the unions work together at different levels, in different institutions. Until recently they were fully responsible for running the labour exchange. 8 They implemented both the general, statute-based social security and theadditional social security at branch level. They(still)operate social funds and arbitration bodies. However, the Dutch system of habour reltions does not include rticipation in or influence on the judicary Labour conflicts are dealt with through the ordinary (civil)courts. The highest-level organisations of employers and employees participate in two permant institutions, the Stichting van de arbeid (Joint Labour Council)and the Social Economische Raad(Social and Econom ic Council) The SER is the central institution within a system of sector organisations under public law. It consists of 33 members, 1 l of which are appointed by the centra employees'organisations(FNV8, CNV 2, MHP 1), 1l represent the employers (VNO 7, MKB 3, LTO 1)and 1 l members are independent and are appointed by the Crown. The sector organisations, of which the SER is the supervisory body, have (lim ited)legislative powers, e.g. in the areas of registration, professional standard setting and abour conditions. The latter competence, which stands in direct ompetition with negotiated collective agreements, is rarely used. 9 The SER is one of the main advisory bodies of the government and in that capacity it deals with wide range of socal and econom ic issues. The Joint Labour Council or STAR is composed of representatives of the social partners only. It advises the govemment on ocial issues and is, inter alia, consulted during the process of decking collective agreements to be generally applicable. Since both the Ser and the STar advise the H.L. Bakek, I P. Ascher- Vonk, W.J.PM. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht Deventer: Kluwer, I 6thedition 2000, P. 183. Inaddition, they offer advice to ther members. 15 H.L. Bakek, I P. Ascher- Vonk, W.J.P.M. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht Deventer. Kluwer, I 6thedition 2000, p. 183 LTO is a collective agreements. The construction sector has seven different organisations within the one federation, n the road-haulage sector there are two organisations of employers, each negotiating their own collective As of l January 2002, the labourexchanges have changed int centers for employment and income which perform functions with regards to unemp by ment benefit and socal aid as well. The H L. Bakes, I P. Ascher- Vonk, W.J.PM. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht, Deventer: Kluwer, 16thedition 2000, p. 294VAN HOEK 4 single undertakings. Their function is mainly political.14 They partake in the social dialogue which takes place in the Joint Labour Council (Stichting van de Arbeid) and the Social and Economic Council (see below) but neither the VNO-NCW nor the MKB are themselves parties to collective agreements. They do coordinate the negotiations, however.15 Collective agreements are closed by branchorganisations and/or (groups of) enterprises. 16 There are quite a few branchorganisations, sometimes more than one within the same branch of industry.17 The largest and most influential is the FME-CWM, which since a merger in 1995 is the main representative of the employers in the steel industry, in synthetic fibres, electronics and the electrotechnical industry. The membership of the FME-CWM includes multinational corporations like Philips, Stork and Corus. Employers’ organisations and the unions work together at different levels, in different institutions. Until recently they were fully responsible for running the labour exchange.18 They implemented both the general, statute-based social security and the additional social security at branch level. They (still) operate social funds and arbitration bodies. However, the Dutch system of labour relations does not include participation in or influence on the judiciary. Labour conflicts are dealt with through the ordinary (civil) courts. The highest-level organisations of employers and employees participate in two permant institutions, the Stichting van de Arbeid (Joint Labour Council) and the Sociaal Economische Raad (Social and Economic Council). The SER is the central institution within a system of sector organisations under public law. It consists of 33 members, 11 of which are appointed by the central employees’ organisations (FNV 8, CNV 2, MHP 1), 11 represent the employers (VNO 7, MKB 3, LTO 1) and 11 members are independent and are appointed by the ‘Crown’. The sector organisations, of which the SER is the supervisory body, have (limited) legislative powers, e.g. in the areas of registration, professional standard setting and labour conditions. The latter competence, which stands in direct competition with negotiated collective agreements, is rarely used.19 The SER is one of the main advisory bodies of the government and in that capacity it deals with a wide range of social and economic issues. The Joint Labour Council or STAR is composed of representatives of the social partners only. It advises the government on social issues and is, inter alia, consulted during the process of declaring collective agreements to be generally applicable. Since both the SER and the STAR advise the 14. H.L. Bakels, I.P. Ascher-Vonk, W.J.P.M. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht, Deventer: Kluwer, 16th edition 2000, p. 183. In addition, they offer advice to their members. 15. H.L. Bakels, I.P. Ascher-Vonk, W.J.P.M. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht, Deventer: Kluwer, 16th edition 2000, p. 183. 16. LTO is a party to collective agreements. 17. The construction sector has seven different organisations within the one federation, in the road-haulage sector there are two organisations of employers, each negotiating their own collective agreement. 18. As of 1 January 2002, the labourexchanges have changed into ‘centers for employment and income’ which perform functions with regards to unemployment benefit and social aid as well. The social partners do not participate in the management of these centers. 19. H.L. Bakels, I.P. Ascher-Vonk, W.J.P.M. Fase, Schets van het Nederlands Arbeidsrecht, Deventer: Kluwer, 16th edition 2000, p. 294