Four Weeks Leave and Regional Development Key to Dutch Success

Progressive Deputy Leader, Matt Robson has recently returned from a week long visit to the Netherlands to discuss Regional Development and the Dutch economy with the regional development agency of the Hague.

"For the fifth year in a row the Economist Intelligence Unit has given the Netherlands the top ranking as the best place in the world to do business. It was also placed third in the EIU's 2003 " e-readiness" analysis of the world's largest markets.

"It is especially good to see as they are following the same economic development path New Zealand is taking, including industry clusters, partnership work in business development and assisting firms to establish themselves in the Netherlands.

"Dutch workers have four weeks leave which is heavily supported by development agencies and the Chamber of Commerce. All were adamant that every effort necessary had to be made to move to a high-skilled workforce with a reasonable work-life balance.

"Good working conditions were essential part of the Dutch success and they found the concept of a minimum 3 weeks annual leave for the lowest paid workers to be "barbaric".

"Parties like United can not expect to gain a highly skilled, healthy workforce without supporting four weeks leave," said Progressive Deputy Leader, Matt Robson MP.

Matt Robson will be talking with chambers of commerce and other business entities about considering making the Netherlands their base for any expansion into the European market.

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