The new year brings some changes.
No more free plastic bags.
Starting 1 January stores can no longer hand out free plastic bags. They have to charge 25 cents.
Acquisition fraud
Acquisition fraud is forbidden now. Examples of it are: misleading by phone, false invoices, misleading via a representative. Acquisition fraud against entrepreneurs can result is a 2 years sentence to prison
AOW
Is will be easier to employ an elderly worker. When ill the employer has to continue payment for 13 weeks instead of 2 years. Also there are less obligations regarding reintegration. The age for retirement is risen 3 months to 65 years and 6 months.
Flexwork
Employees are now allowed to ask their employers to partly do their work elsewhere, for example from home. Furthermore they can ask for different working hours. Employers can deny these requests with good arguments.
Welfare
Payments for employment terminations are now limited to €76.000,- or a year’s salary, to be paid within 6 months.
Innovation
Two innovation arrangement are now merged into the WBSO in order to ease the process.
Annual reporting
Entrepreneurs can only provide the Chamber of Commerce with their annual report digitally via
Standard Business Reporting (SBR) or the online service of the Chamber of Commerce.
Privacy
Companies which break the privacy rules can now be fined by “het College bescherming persoonsgegevens (CBP)”. Personal information has to be stored in a secure manor or can result in a fine at a maximum of 20.225 euro and in the highest category a maximum of 810.000 euro.
