The Working Conditions Act is a framework act. This means that not everything is set out in detail in the legislation. Employers and employees are thus given the space to reach their own agreements and to implement healthy and safe working practices in a way that is well suited to the specific working conditions within a sector.
Employers’ and employees’ organisations set out these jointly agreed arrangements in what is known as a health and safety catalogue. The Netherlands Labour Authority assesses new and amended health and safety catalogues, which gives the agreements legal status. During an inspection, the health and safety catalogue serves as a reference for enforcement.