News

Dutch residents want May 5 to be a public holiday

Published

3 weeks ago

06/05/2022

Dutch residents want May 5 to be a public holiday

Residents of the Netherlands demand that Independence Day, celebrated on May 5, be a public holiday. According to the survey conducted by Hart van Nederland, 83 percent of 3,900 respondents think May 5th should be a holiday for everyone.

There are two national holidays in the Netherlands, King’s Day and Independence Day. Celebrated on April 27, King’s Day is also a public holiday for many. On the other hand, Independence Day is celebrated as a public holiday only every 5 years.

One of the respondents said, “Liberation Day should be a public holiday every year besides being a national holiday. Freedom is something to be celebrated,” he said.

Whether or not today is a holiday for employees is determined according to the agreement reached with the collective bargaining agreement. Those who work in critical sectors such as health, public transport or safety need to work today.

News

Majority of the Netherlands support LGBT people

Published

1 day ago

26/05/2022

Berry Fox

According to a study conducted in the Netherlands, support for LGBT individuals was calculated as 76 percent. While 20 percent of the society is undecided on this issue, only 4 percent have negative feelings towards LGBT individuals.

The research was conducted by SCP, the government’s socio-cultural think thank. Gay, lesbian and bisexuals came to the fore among the LGBT individuals accepted by the society.

On the other hand, support for transgender people is lower at 60 percent. The proportion of people who have negative feelings towards transgender people was also higher at 9 percent. For this group, the rate of undecided is also higher.

SCP noted that over the past 15 years, attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality in the Netherlands have progressed much more positively than in other European countries. Only in Iceland is society more positive towards LGBT people than in the Netherlands.

Despite the general support, 19 percent of respondents said they found it ‘disgusting’ for two men to have sex. Those who found the intercourse of two women ‘disgusting’ were calculated as 7 percent. Also, 20 percent said they showed less reaction when they saw two women holding hands than when they saw two men holding hands.

News

Face mask mandatory in public transport in Belgium ended

Published

1 day ago

26/05/2022

Berry Fox

Mask mandatory in public transport in Belgium ended

The mask requirement applied in Belgium due to the Covid-19 epidemic has also ended in public transportation. Only hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies will require masks.

Due to the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic in Belgium, the obligation to wear a mask, which has been applied in public transport for more than two years, has been lifted.

At the end of the meeting of the Belgian government on Covid-19 measures, a statement was made to the press.

According to the decisions taken by the government as of Monday, May 23, passengers will not be required to wear masks in public transport.

MASK REQUIREMENTS WILL CONTINUE IN HOSPITALS, PRAYERS AND PHARMACIES

Only hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies will require masks. It will be recommended to wear a mask in places such as very crowded places and sick and elderly care homes.

The measures, which were previously applied and some of them were relaxed, were also lifted during travels to Belgium. Thus, the restriction applied to “non-essential” travel to Belgium from non-EU countries has ended.

Those coming from outside the EU are no longer required to show a valid Covid-19 certificate recognized by Belgium. The Covid-19 certificate shows that you were vaccinated, had the disease within 6 months, or had a negative PCR test in the last 72 hours.

Passengers will also no longer be required to fill out a tracking form for Covid-19 upon arrival in Belgium.

In Belgium, the positive trend in the data on the epidemic in recent months continues. In the country where the cases continue to fall, the number of daily cases is currently 3 thousand 500, the number of daily deaths is around 10.

News

Netherlands: minimum wage is rising

Published

1 day ago

26/05/2022

Berry Fox

In the Netherlands, the cabinet is considering a minimum wage increase next year. The information came in collaboration with RTL Nieuws and NOS.

According to previous statements, this increase would be in 2024, but the date has been moved forward. With the increase, the minimum wage for those aged 21 or over will be 1,725 euros. The cabinet wants to increase by 7.5 percent in 2024 and 2025. This year’s increase will be at the same rate.

With the first increase in the minimum wage, there will be an increase in the pension. It is unclear whether there will be an increase in this area in the other two planned years. The decision will likely be finalized at the Council of Ministers on Friday.

Previously, the cabinet did not want to increase the pension along with the minimum wage. However, this drew intense criticism from the opposition.