Permanent contracts for all of PostNL’s mail deliverers

The Netherlands’ PostNL has announced it will offer permanent contracts to all its mail deliverers, both those already employed by PostNL and any new colleagues that will take on the role of postmen or women.

In a statement issued yesterday (3 August), PotNL said that this “essentially means that over 1,000 mail deliverers on temporary contracts will see those rolled over into permanent agreements”.

Bob van Ierland, Director of Mail in the Netherlands, commented: “We’re taking this decision as a sign of appreciation and trust for all of our colleagues who are dedicated to delivering the mail, day in, day out, offering them more security. The prospect of a permanent contract will, we hope, encourage new deliverers to come and join us. We need them in today’s tight labour market!”

To date, mail deliverers had been offered permanent positions after seven months. In June 2022, PostNL reached an agreement with the trade unions about a pay rise of more than 8% for its nearly 16,500 postmen and women. In some areas, new mail deliverers are offered a bonus of up to €250 if they come and join PostNL. Wages for new younger employees have also been raised and the work itself has been made more flexible. In various cities in the Netherlands, posties may choose to deliver the mail in the evenings if that suits them better – by which PostNL hopes to attract students and pupils that might be interested in mail delivery as a side job.